One week requested by François Bairou on September 8 at the National Assembly, the French prime minister gave a large television interview.
A new round of consultations with party leaders and parliamentary groups is expected to begin today. Of course,.
However, he began the interview by clarifying that he does not give it to say “goodbye”, as the first secretary of the Socialist Party called him. “The issue is not the fate of the prime minister, it is the fate of France,” he initially said. He then pointed out: “If the government falls (…) it means we will change politics. We will abandon the policy that for me is vital to the country. “
‘We cannot discuss the seriousness of the problem’
“The next few days are critical,” François Bairou said in a serious tone. At the same time, he sadly pointed out that “we cannot discuss the seriousness of the problem and the accuracy of diagnosis with all political forces”.
He then likened France’s condition to a sinking boat. “A boat with a hole in the hull. The boat is filled with water every day that has been spent fifty years, ”he said.
Then he stressed: “If the French knew it, we wouldn’t be here. There would be a mobilization movement on their part and on the part of the politicians ».
‘Only I didn’t go on vacation’
Of course, the nails were not missing for his political opponents. “The only one who wasn’t on vacation was me. In Paris there was no one » the prime minister insisted, calling on his political interlocutors to continue the dialogue throughout September. Of course, this presupposes to overcome the “obstacle” of September 8th.
Bairou was also asked about the proposal to remove two holidays. Specifically, he proposed the abolition of Easter Monday and May 8 in order to generate additional revenue for public finances.
The French prime minister assured that this measure “is completely debatable and amended”. Indeed, he said ready to “discuss the issue”.
Asked if other options have been examined, he said: “I had thought of one. To go from 35 hours of work in 36 hours of work per week. Then I didn’t, because I see the size of the reactions and also because this is the limit from which overtime starts. “
The informal battle of generations and the assumption of Bairo
“I never said we should target the boomers, to which I belong to me,” Bairou said in a statement. Specifically, four days ago, speaking to TF1, he had accused them of the comfort with which they live.
On Sunday, Bayrou said “I never said we should target the boomers I belong to.” While calling on pensioners to help the younger ones, some of whom he considers “sacrificed” and “without destiny”.
“I want to awaken the elderly because I am sure they are in solidarity with what I say. They are their children and their grandchildren, “the prime minister urged. In fact, he remembered his own youth saying, “When we were 20 years old, France had zero debt and wonderful development. We found a job easily. We didn’t have this burden of debt on our backs. “
Bayrou attack on the Socialist Party
The day after the presentation of the Socialist Party’s fiscal plans – which mainly propose a reduction of the deficit by € 21.7 billion in 2026, that is, about half of the 44 billion euros that the government put on the table – Francois Bairou did not say that.
“The PS proposes to let the expenditure start again by creating, according to my accounts, 32 billion euros in business taxes,” the prime minister complained, citing the confidence of some socialist executives who allegedly told him, “They have been crazy.”
Despite the sharpness of his attacks, François Bairou says he is “addressed to everyone”. Because, as he pointed out, “if we do not agree on the diagnosis, no policy will work”. The project, however, promises to be difficult: “For ten days, I have been constantly on fire from opponents and observers because I dared to say that there is a vital debt problem,” he mourns.
One week after surprise the entire political class asking for a vote of confidence in the assembly, he explained his act. François Bairou said: “If I do not have the minimum consensus of the French and those who represent them, it is not possible for any courageous policy.” As he said he refuses to “pursue a policy against the French people”.
However, Bairou said “convinced” that “things can move positively” from now until September 8th. At the same time, he warned particularly of “a period of disorder, chaos” in the opposite scenario.
Especially since, according to him, there are “political forces that want chaos and who believe that we build the revolution on chaos.”
