Bayrou's controversial budget proposal faces potential pushback and could risk the stability of the government.
**French Government Proposes Elimination of Holidays in Deficit Reduction Strategy**
**French Government Proposes Elimination of Holidays in Deficit Reduction Strategy**
Prime Minister François Bayrou unveils bold plans to scrap public holidays for national debt management.
France's Prime Minister, François Bayrou, has put forward a controversial proposal to abolish two public holidays as part of an ambitious budget plan aimed at managing the nation's soaring debt by 2026. The holidays suggested for removal are Easter Monday and the commemoration of the Allied victory on May 8, a significant date in World War II history. Bayrou described the numerous bank holidays in May as making the month resemble a "gruyère" cheese, filled with holes from public closures. Despite anticipated backlash, he expressed openness to alternative suggestions from the public.
Bayrou's proposal comes amid mounting pressure as the second-largest economy in the eurozone grapples with unsustainable national debt. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that France is at risk of being "crushed" by its financial burdens. Standing in front of a lectern that displayed the phrase "The moment of truth," he outlined measures to control the annual budget deficit, including a public spending freeze, ending tax benefits for affluent citizens, and reducing the civil service workforce.
In addition to the controversial holiday cuts, the budget plan accounts for an increase in defense expenditure, as outlined by President Emmanuel Macron, seeking to boost spending by €3.5 billion next year and another €3 billion by 2027. Bayrou insisted that his proposals are rooted in necessary fiscal realism, noting that France needs to eliminate over €40 billion from its budget to stabilize its finances, with the debt escalating by €5,000 every second.
The reaction to Bayrou's proposal has been sharply divided. The far-right National Rally party criticized the cuts as an affront to French heritage and workers' rights, while the Green party's leader lamented the loss of a day that celebrates the defeat of Nazism. In the wake of these measures, Bayrou admitted to the media that the situation required "basic arithmetic" for fiscal recovery.
With the government seeking to reduce the budget deficit from 5.8% last year to under 4.6% this year and below 3% by 2029, the proposed budget faces the risk of being voted down in parliament during the autumn. The recent history of political instability looms large, as Bayrou's predecessor faced a no-confidence motion that led to his government’s collapse.
Bayrou, who has only recently assumed office, will confront the same opposition factions that previously ousted his predecessor. Opposition leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has called for Bayrou's removal, while National Rally leader Marine Le Pen has warned of further actions against the Prime Minister should he persist with his budgetary strategy.
The complex political landscape and public reaction make the upcoming parliamentary vote crucial. Should Bayrou’s government fall, it could prompt President Macron to either appoint a successor or install an unelected government, both of which could further alienate lawmakers as Macron's own approval ratings hover below 25%.
Bayrou's proposal comes amid mounting pressure as the second-largest economy in the eurozone grapples with unsustainable national debt. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that France is at risk of being "crushed" by its financial burdens. Standing in front of a lectern that displayed the phrase "The moment of truth," he outlined measures to control the annual budget deficit, including a public spending freeze, ending tax benefits for affluent citizens, and reducing the civil service workforce.
In addition to the controversial holiday cuts, the budget plan accounts for an increase in defense expenditure, as outlined by President Emmanuel Macron, seeking to boost spending by €3.5 billion next year and another €3 billion by 2027. Bayrou insisted that his proposals are rooted in necessary fiscal realism, noting that France needs to eliminate over €40 billion from its budget to stabilize its finances, with the debt escalating by €5,000 every second.
The reaction to Bayrou's proposal has been sharply divided. The far-right National Rally party criticized the cuts as an affront to French heritage and workers' rights, while the Green party's leader lamented the loss of a day that celebrates the defeat of Nazism. In the wake of these measures, Bayrou admitted to the media that the situation required "basic arithmetic" for fiscal recovery.
With the government seeking to reduce the budget deficit from 5.8% last year to under 4.6% this year and below 3% by 2029, the proposed budget faces the risk of being voted down in parliament during the autumn. The recent history of political instability looms large, as Bayrou's predecessor faced a no-confidence motion that led to his government’s collapse.
Bayrou, who has only recently assumed office, will confront the same opposition factions that previously ousted his predecessor. Opposition leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has called for Bayrou's removal, while National Rally leader Marine Le Pen has warned of further actions against the Prime Minister should he persist with his budgetary strategy.
The complex political landscape and public reaction make the upcoming parliamentary vote crucial. Should Bayrou’s government fall, it could prompt President Macron to either appoint a successor or install an unelected government, both of which could further alienate lawmakers as Macron's own approval ratings hover below 25%.
