The editorial. Bayrou in the storm

François Bayrou hasn't taken a vacation this year, and he's made it abundantly clear. But the return to school, for him too, is looming under a frankly hostile political climate. The Prime Minister, who will hold his first press conference this Monday since his mid-July presentation of the austerity measures he intends to prescribe to restore public finances, knows he's surrounded by headwinds.

The "Block Everything" movement, which calls for paralyzing the country on September 10, is gaining momentum and now enjoys—despite the ideological vagueness surrounding it—the support of a large part of the left. Dialogue with social partners is on the verge of collapse as social reform projects multiply, perceived as forced passages. Finally, the specter of censure looms dangerously over the government: a motion to this effect will be tabled by La France Insoumise on the first day of the next parliamentary session, even before the budget debate begins. And the Prime Minister will, once again, be at the mercy of the opposition.

There's undoubtedly a storm brewing, but betting on the fall of the Prime Minister would be risky. Supported by the President of the Republic, the centrist—more resilient than his predecessors Gabriel Attal and Michel Barnier —has already survived eight motions of censure. With forty years of political experience, he has demonstrated his ability to navigate troubled waters.

This summer, he played the role of YouTuber, appealing to public opinion and advocating for a general diet—one he promises to apply to political leaders. No doubt he'll also play the role of negotiator in the coming weeks. It remains to be seen whether he'll be able to avoid a shipwreck.