François Bayrou plans to offer a referendum on an “overall plan” to reduce the deficit in public finances and debt

In an interview published by the Sunday newspaper (JDD), Saturday May 3, François Bayrou, said “Do not go away[r] No possibility “including that of a referendum, to adopt a set of measures aimed at reducing the deficit in public finances and debt.

Rejecting “The artichoke method” made up of separate and disparate measures, the head of government is committed to presenting a “Coherent plan, with clear, legible proposals”.

“It is an overall plan that I want to submit, he will ask for efforts from everyone and, by the extent that must be his, he cannot succeed if the French people do not support him”said the Prime Minister, while recalling that the final decision to organize a referendum belongs to the Head of State. Never under the V^e Republic, such a consultation with the French has not been organized to have a budgetary text adopted.

“A referendum can only be decided by the President of the Republic. The government proposes, the president decides. But the question of the membership of the French to reforms is indeed the central question ”explained Mr. Bayrou.

His government, which managed to adopt the 2025 State and Social Security budgets at the start of the year by escaping a series of censorship motions, is now engaged in the preparation of the budget for 2026. He estimates that he must find 40 billion euros to respect his objectives for reducing the public deficit of 5.4 % of the gross domestic product (GDP) this year at 4.6 % next year.

“The solution is not in new taxes”

In this interview with JDDthe Head of Government takes up the elements of his diagnosis exposed at a conference on public finances, in April. He had then promised to publicize his budgetary choices for 2026 before July 14.

“Our country has two massive challenges in front of it, the heaviest in its recent history: too weak production and overwhelming debthe explains. You need a complete return to balance plan. A production component and a public finance component. Both are essential. »»

François Bayrou believes that he “Must offer specific solutions, with a clear objective: being less dependent on debt this year and, by four years, return below the 3 % of public deficit”.

“This will go through a determined drop in expenses. By simplification. By better state effectiveness and public action in general ”he warns, while reaffirming that “The solution is not in new taxes”.

“I think the question is serious enough, heavy enough consequences for the future of the nation, so that it is addressed directly to citizens”he added to explain this idea of ​​possibly going through the referendum.

A drop in the number of officials envisaged

The Prime Minister, who draws up a failure of failure of attempts to carry out structural reforms in the field of state and public finances, thus seeks to bypass the blockages linked in particular to the absence of a majority in the National Assembly.

“When we reform by the classic ways, by the passage in force, what happens? The country goes on strike, the demonstrations are linked and no one knows if those who parade really know the content of what they dispute ”he believes.

The head of government does not exclude a decrease in the workforce of civil servants, which he deems “Possible and beneficial” But would result from a reform of the missions of the State and local authorities.

Prime Minister since December 13, when he had taken over from Michel Barnier, censored on the social security budget, Mr. Bayrou regularly highlights the« Himalaya » which stands before its action.

“And a Himalayas, it’s not a mountain, it’s a chain. With several summits, all above 8,000 meters ”he said to JDD.