Facing parliament challenges, Bayrou emphasizes the urgency of financial reform with a series of bold measures, including budget cuts and defense spending increases.
**French PM Proposes Controversial Public Holiday Cuts to Address National Debt Crisis**
**French PM Proposes Controversial Public Holiday Cuts to Address National Debt Crisis**
In an audacious move, France's Prime Minister François Bayrou proposes eliminating two public holidays to manage national debt levels.
In a striking proposition to alleviate France's mounting national debt, Prime Minister François Bayrou announced plans to eliminate two public holidays as part of his 2026 budget proposal. The proposed holidays for removal are Easter Monday and May 8th, commemorating the Allied victory in World War II. Bayrou, who described the numerous bank holidays as contributing to a fragmented month of May, indicated that he was receptive to alternative suggestions but stressed that changes were necessary urgently.
Standing firm on the financial risks facing France, Bayrou declared that the nation is "in mortal danger" of being overwhelmed by debt, stressing the need for sound fiscal management. As part of his extensive budget strategy, he outlined various measures aimed at shrinking the annual budget deficit, which includes freezing public expenditure for the coming year, revoking tax benefits for the affluent, and reducing the workforce of civil servants.
Additionally, the proposal integrates a call for a €3.5 billion increase in defense spending next year, with further increments planned for 2027. The idea of abolishing two public holidays has sparked immediate controversy and backlash from diverse political factions. The extreme right National Rally (RN) condemned the initiative as an affront to France’s historical heritage and disempowering for its workforce, while Green party leader Marine Tondelier expressed distress over the potential for disregarding a day of significant historical importance.
When pressed about the implications of his proposals, Bayrou defended his approach as "basic arithmetic," emphasizing the need to reconcile the €43.8 billion shortfall affecting France’s budget, which he noted grows at an alarming rate of €5,000 per second. His ambitious objective seeks to reduce the deficit from 5.8% in the previous year to below 4.6% by next year, with aspirations to drop it below 3% by 2029.
A mere four months into his premiership, Bayrou faces a contentious political landscape following the collapse of his predecessor Michel Barnier's administration over budget-related conflicts. The political climate remains deeply divided, raising concerns that Bayrou could encounter similar fate when his budget proposal is voted on in the autumn.
Clear tension is building, as Jean-Luc Mélenchon from the leftist France Unbowed (LFI) called for Bayrou's resignation, while RN leader Marine Le Pen warned of potential repercussions if Bayrou does not adjust his strategies. Despite these pressures, Bayrou remains resolute in pursuing necessary reforms to restore fiscal stability.
With the French parliament fragmented and cooperation appearing increasingly unlikely, another election could yield a similar deadlock, perplexing President Emmanuel Macron, who confronts his own dwindling popularity. Macron may soon need to consider alternatives should Bayrou's government falter, as appointing a successor or technocratic governance could deter collaboration with current MPs.
Standing firm on the financial risks facing France, Bayrou declared that the nation is "in mortal danger" of being overwhelmed by debt, stressing the need for sound fiscal management. As part of his extensive budget strategy, he outlined various measures aimed at shrinking the annual budget deficit, which includes freezing public expenditure for the coming year, revoking tax benefits for the affluent, and reducing the workforce of civil servants.
Additionally, the proposal integrates a call for a €3.5 billion increase in defense spending next year, with further increments planned for 2027. The idea of abolishing two public holidays has sparked immediate controversy and backlash from diverse political factions. The extreme right National Rally (RN) condemned the initiative as an affront to France’s historical heritage and disempowering for its workforce, while Green party leader Marine Tondelier expressed distress over the potential for disregarding a day of significant historical importance.
When pressed about the implications of his proposals, Bayrou defended his approach as "basic arithmetic," emphasizing the need to reconcile the €43.8 billion shortfall affecting France’s budget, which he noted grows at an alarming rate of €5,000 per second. His ambitious objective seeks to reduce the deficit from 5.8% in the previous year to below 4.6% by next year, with aspirations to drop it below 3% by 2029.
A mere four months into his premiership, Bayrou faces a contentious political landscape following the collapse of his predecessor Michel Barnier's administration over budget-related conflicts. The political climate remains deeply divided, raising concerns that Bayrou could encounter similar fate when his budget proposal is voted on in the autumn.
Clear tension is building, as Jean-Luc Mélenchon from the leftist France Unbowed (LFI) called for Bayrou's resignation, while RN leader Marine Le Pen warned of potential repercussions if Bayrou does not adjust his strategies. Despite these pressures, Bayrou remains resolute in pursuing necessary reforms to restore fiscal stability.
With the French parliament fragmented and cooperation appearing increasingly unlikely, another election could yield a similar deadlock, perplexing President Emmanuel Macron, who confronts his own dwindling popularity. Macron may soon need to consider alternatives should Bayrou's government falter, as appointing a successor or technocratic governance could deter collaboration with current MPs.
