Crisis

France, Bayrou does not give up: 'In 11 days everything can change'

But according to the premier himself, 'the debt issue is beginning to make its way into public opinion'. And the opposition is united in wanting the end of the government

28 August 2025

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Il primo ministro francese Francois Bayrou. Thibaud Moritz/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

2' min read

2' min read

Eleven days to reach a turning point: François Bayrou, the French Prime Minister who announced on Monday his intention to challenge Parliament with a vote of confidence on his government and its policy of sacrifices to get back from over-indebtedness, is not giving up. For the time being, there are no openings, from the extreme right to the extreme left, but even among the socialists, the watchword is 'no confidence'.

But according to the premier himself, 'the debt issue is beginning to make its way into public opinion'. And Le Monde, in an article, unveils what appear to be plots or designs by a part of the gauche to present itself as an acceptable alternative in the leadership of a government after the rejection of the current one. The day revolved around the traditional meeting in front of an audience of businessmen, organised by Medef, the French Confederation of Industry.

The PM's optimism

Before Bayrou, Eric Lombard, the Minister of the Economy, spoke in rather optimistic tones: 'We will pass the budget on time', 'I do not believe in the financial crisis' some of his statements greeted by applause.

Then the premier addressed the audience before the debate among his opponents. "I am convinced that the issue of debt is beginning to make its way into the minds of many of our compatriots," Bayrou said, adding his certainty that "everything can change in the next 11 days, provided we are committed, provided we are not afraid of anything." He returned, to dampen the controversy, to some of his statements yesterday: he did not meet with party leaders in the summer to talk to them about his intentions for this confidence vote as they were 'all on holiday, as is normal'.

Francia sull'orlo della crisi, Bayrou chiede fiducia sulla manovra

Oppositions against

Then, the prime minister insisted on the key of 'social justice', which is not only an 'imperative' but also a 'condition' for it to be 'accepted' by the French to engage in the 'effort to save' envisaged in his budget-cutting plan. According to Bayrou, at the forefront of his project is a 'contribution from the most favoured', according to the 'fair measure of their capacities', always 'considering productive investment as a national treasure'.

From the ensuing debate, nothing new, with La France Insoumise and the Ecologists also boycotting the consultations, and Jordan Bardella, president of the Rassemblement National, condemning Bayrou's 'blackmail' and calling for a return to the polls.

Left cuts

Meanwhile, Le Monde traces the broad outlines of the projects of a gauche that would propose its own plan of cuts around 25-27 billion (not Bayrou's 44), inspired by 'social justice'. The idea would be to propose - as personalities to lead a left-wing government - the names of Raphael Glucksmann or the former 'Insoumis', François Ruffin. Thinking of a 'non-confidence' of part of the current majority, especially the Macronians. On Friday, at the Ps summer congress in Blois, secretary Olivier Faure will illustrate his project to explain to the French 'that another way is possible, a budgetary alternative under the sign of justice'.