Prime Minister François Bayrou has offered to negotiate with all political parties to avoid a government collapse in next week’s confidence vote. In a televised interview on BFMTV/RMC Wednesday morning, Bayrou warned that rejecting his budget plan would plunge France into instability.
Facing potential defeat in the National Assembly on September 8, the prime minister acknowledged that lawmakers “can bring down the government,” but questioned whether doing so would serve the national interest. He vowed to use “every minute, every broadcast” to convince opponents of his €44 billion austerity package.
In a significant concession, Bayrou indicated willingness to reconsider the controversial elimination of two public holidays if alternative savings can be found. “I am ready to examine any solution,” he stated.
The centrist leader also reached out to the far-right National Rally by proposing stricter conditions for undocumented migrants accessing state medical aid (AME), calling it a “common sense measure.” Meanwhile, he accused Socialist leader Olivier Faure of seeking to become prime minister and hoping to “bring down the government.”
Bayrou defended his economic program as essential for addressing France’s “incredibly weakened situation” and growing public debt, which he described as “hemorrhaging” the country. He criticized both left and right for offering what he called misguided solutions.
“We must build the future together,” Bayrou concluded, describing himself as “realistic but not defeatist” about Monday’s vote.
