Politics. Referendum on a plan to reduce deficits: Macron delays after Bayrou's announcement
Emmanuel Macron believes it is difficult at this stage to comment on the idea of a referendum put forward by Prime Minister François Bayrou to adopt a "comprehensive plan" to reduce deficits and debt, a source close to the president said on Sunday. For his part, the leader of the Les Républicains (LR) deputies, Laurent Wauquiez, rejected the idea.
"The Prime Minister is talking about a plan for reforms and savings, and it's difficult to say anything until this plan is presented," explains a source close to the president. Photo Sipa / Gabrielle Cezard
A referendum on a plan to reduce deficits? Emmanuel Macron believes it is difficult at this stage to decide on the idea of a referendum put forward by Prime Minister François Bayrou to adopt a "comprehensive plan" for reducing deficits and debt, a source close to the president said on Sunday. "The Prime Minister is talking about a plan for reforms and savings, and it is difficult to say anything until this plan is presented," the same source explained.
This content is blocked because you have not accepted cookies and other trackers.
By clicking on "I accept" , cookies and other trackers will be placed and you will be able to view the contents ( more information ).
By clicking on "I accept all cookies" , you authorize the deposit of cookies and other tracers for the storage of your data on our sites and applications for the purposes of personalization and advertising targeting.
You can withdraw your consent at any time by consulting our data protection policy . Manage my choices
Prime Minister François Bayrou raised the possibility of holding a referendum on "a coherent plan, with clear, legible proposals" aimed at reducing deficits and debt, in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche (JDD) . "It is a comprehensive plan that I want to submit, it will require efforts from everyone, and given the scale that it must be, it cannot succeed if the French people do not support it," he declared.
François Bayrou, who warned Emmanuel Macron of his proposal, reiterated that holding a referendum was the prerogative of the head of state. "The government proposes, the president decides. But the question of the French people's support for the reforms is the central issue," he said.
François Bayrou's government, which managed to pass the 2025 state and social security budgets earlier this year, avoiding a series of motions of censure, is now engaged in preparing the 2026 budget. It estimates that it needs to find €40 billion to meet its public deficit reduction targets, and intends to present its proposals for the 2026 budget by July 14.
Laurent Wauquiez (LR) rejects the idea
The leader of the Republicans (LR) deputies, Laurent Wauquiez, on Sunday rejected the idea of a referendum put forward by Prime Minister François Bayrou to adopt a reform of the State and public finances.
"There's no need for a referendum to show that the French are fed up with tax increases. And the only thing we're asking of the Prime Minister is to finally have the courage to tackle the waste of public money," declared Laurent Wauquiez during the program "Un dimanche en politique" on France 3.
"And what bothers me here, as in many areas, is that we have a Prime Minister who is procrastinating, who is just trying to gain time and who is not making any decisions," he added. LR is part of François Bayrou's government coalition, but Laurent Wauquiez is increasingly critical of the Prime Minister's actions. The leader of the deputies is also engaged in a battle against Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau for the party presidency.
"If he (François Bayrou) ever presents us with a budget with tax increases, we will not vote for it," he declared, while ruling out at this stage the possibility that LR could join a motion of censure against the government.
"Consulting the French people is never a bad idea," Prisca Thévenot, the party's deputy secretary general, also declared on France 3, regretting that there are "more political forces in Parliament who want to block things than to move the country forward."
Le Progres
