French Prime Minister François Bayrou readily acknowledges that, having no majority in the Assemblée Nationale, he is “at the mercy of the opposition.” Both the left and the far right have already threatened to back a vote of no confidence following Bayrou’s presentation of the outlines of the 2026 budget on Tuesday, July 15.
It is difficult to win a popularity contest when proposing an unprecedented budgetary effort of nearly €44 billion. Fabien Roussel, the head of the Communists, condemned what he called a “heist by an organized gang” on X, accusing the government of wanting “to make us work for free.”
The most visible measure to the French public, Bayrou’s proposal to eliminate two public holidays, is at the heart of opposition criticism. Putting forward Easter Monday and May 8, the day that commemorates victory in World War Two, as examples, Bayrou estimated the move would “bring in several billion euros.” The second date struck a nerve with Marine Tondelier, leader of the Greens. “How are we supposed to interpret that, exactly?” she asked.
For the far-right Rassemblement National (RN), even making the suggestion marks a red line. “No RN lawmaker will accept this measure, which is nothing short of a provocation,” warned the party’s president, Jordan Bardella, who denounced “a direct attack on our history, our roots and on the working French.”
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