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 newspaperSaturday 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.

“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“A referendum can only be decided by the President of the Republic”on the government’s proposal.

“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 ”he continued.

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 the JDD, the head of government takes up the elements of his diagnosis exposed at a conference on public finances last month. 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 low production and overwhelming debt”he explains. “You need a full 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 under the threshold of 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”.

With this idea of ​​referendum, the Prime Minister 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.