In an unusual move to defend sweeping public spending cuts, French Prime Minister François Bayrou has taken to YouTube in a personal campaign to rally support for his controversial €43.8 billion austerity plan.
Rather than enjoy the summer break, Bayrou has launched a video series titled “FB Direct”, aiming to persuade the public that these drastic measures are not acts of cruelty but necessary steps to avoid an impending fiscal disaster.
“All politicians are going on a well-deserved vacation. I will not because the days we’re going to live through during these weeks of August and early September are absolutely crucial. This is the moment when everything is at stake,” Bayrou declared in his first video, released Tuesday.
With France’s economy on the edge and public trust at an all-time low, Bayrou is ditching tradition – and his holiday – to confront financial reality head-on through a modern medium: YouTube.
A Budget Blow That’s Hard to Swallow
During a recent high-stakes press conference, branded as “a moment of truth,” Bayrou laid out his vision for a leaner, more sustainable France. It wasn’t well-received.
The key measures he proposed include:
- Cutting two of the country’s 11 public holidays.
- Reducing the number of civil service roles.
- Freezing welfare and pension payments that usually rise with inflation.
These cuts have sparked political uproar. Both far-right and left-wing opposition groups have voiced fierce resistance and are threatening to topple the government when the budget is debated this autumn.
Despite the backlash, Bayrou is sticking to his guns.
“When you’re forced to borrow, not to buy a house, an apartment, home furnishings or to buy a car, but simply to pay for everyday expenses, when you’re forced to borrow and you can’t pay it back without going every month to the bank to ask for an additional loan which is more and more expensive, that is call over-indebtedness,” Bayrou warned.
Fighting Debt with Drastic Decisions
The government’s aim is to bring the national deficit down from 5.8% of GDP in 2024 to 4.6% by 2026. It’s a steep climb, and not everyone believes it’s feasible or fair.
But Bayrou insists this is the only route to safeguard the country’s financial stability. And he’s hoping that by speaking directly to citizens, through their screens, he can get his message across.
“The aim of this direct communication is for you to form your own opinion,” he told viewers. “My certainty is that there is no other path than this bearable and chosen effort.”
Still, the numbers don’t lie, and they don’t favour Bayrou. According to a July 31 survey from pollster Elabe, just 12% of French citizens trust the Prime Minister. That’s the lowest rating since the polling began.
It’s a tough crowd. But Bayrou is hoping some might pause their summer scrolling long enough to consider his message — and perhaps even believe it. Only time will tell if YouTube diplomacy can turn public sentiment around.
