Left-wing French presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon recently proposed canceling public debt held by the Bank of France, a suggestion gaining attention amidst the election. However, Olivier Babeau, founder of the Sapiens Institute, argues this idea is overly simplistic and fails to address the entirety of the issue. Babeau contends that merely "burning" these debt titles overlooks crucial complexities within the economic landscape. The proposal, while potentially appealing, lacks a comprehensive understanding of debt dynamics. He suggests that focusing solely on this aspect provides a misleading solution. This critique highlights a significant debate surrounding economic policies being presented during the French presidential campaign, with experts questioning the feasibility and effectiveness of Mélenchon’s approach.