Far-right leader Marine Le Pen has issued a stark warning to the French government, vowing to destabilize the administration unless Prime Minister François Bayrou retracts a contentious new budget proposal. This budget suggests the elimination of two significant public holidays in an effort to address France’s soaring public debt and persistent deficit.
Le Pen, whose National Rally party has become the most dominant force in French politics, criticized the government for its approach, stating, “This government prefers to attack the French people, workers, and pensioners, rather than hunt waste.” Her remarks were made on X during Bayrou’s presentation of a €43.8 billion budget aimed at reducing the nation’s €3.3 trillion public debt.
The prime minister’s budget plan includes cutting thousands of public service jobs, slashing €5 billion from healthcare spending, and freezing salaries for various government employees and welfare payments, including pensions that typically correlate with inflation rates.
However, the most controversial element of Bayrou’s proposal is the suggestion to eliminate two of France’s 11 public holidays: Easter Monday and Victory in Europe Day on May 8. By doing so, he argues, the government could increase economic output by limiting the number of short workweeks that arise from the concentration of public holidays in late April, May, and early June.
Bayrou defended this plan as a necessary collective sacrifice, emphasizing the need for the nation to increase productivity. He stated, “We must as a nation work more.” Yet, this idea of abolishing public holidays could provoke anger among French voters, who traditionally value their robust social safety net compared to other Western democracies like the United States.
Recent history shows that changes to France’s social welfare systems can lead to considerable unrest. The recent rise in the retirement age in 2023, for example, ignited widespread protests and remains largely unpopular among the populace.
Formal discussions on the budget proposals will not occur until after the summer break. However, early reactions suggest that Bayrou’s plans pose a significant risk to the stability of his minority government, which relies on the backing of opposition parties. The National Rally has played a pivotal role in supporting the government, but its stance may shift in light of these new budgetary measures.
Opposition voices, particularly from the Greens, the Socialist Party, and the far-left France Unbowed, have already condemned the 2026 budget. The National Rally has chosen to deliberate Bayrou’s fate concerning the new budget, which they criticized shortly after it was announced. National Rally President Jordan Bardella characterized the removal of the May 8 holiday as “a direct attack” on French history. Meanwhile, budget spokesperson Jean-Philippe Tanguy conveyed disapproval by suggesting that Bayrou’s actions are essentially dismissing the sentiments of the French people.
image source from：politico
