Among other things, Bayrou proposes that two of France's eleven public holidays be abolished. As an example, he mentions Easter Monday and Liberation Day on May 8.
He also says that savings will be required in the public sector, as well as a stop to increased spending on, among other things, pensions and healthcare.
Several hundred, perhaps as many as 1,500 government jobs will disappear, says Bayrou during a press conference on Tuesday.
The message comes as Bayrou presents guidelines for the 2026 budget.
Warns of debt crisis
France's national debt is a staggering 3,300 billion euros (37,000 billion kronor) and has broken EU budget rules for several years. In an attempt to curb the soaring spending in the EU's second-largest economy, Prime Minister Bayrou was expected to present savings of a total of 40 billion euros.
However, that figure is expected to be written up as President Emmanuel Macron over the weekend demanded increased military spending of 3.5 billion euros next year, according to AFP.
Bayrou further says that the government aims to reduce the budget deficit to 4.6 percent next year, from the predicted 5.4 percent for this year. The hope is to reach below the three percent required by the EU by 2029.
Will likely provoke anger
The French national debt – which currently corresponds to 114 percent of GDP – is increasing by 5,000 euros per second, notes Bayrou. He mentions the Greek debt crisis as a warning example to motivate the need for cuts.
The Greek people, the Greek state, have been forced to make enormous sacrifices: that's exactly what we don't want, says Bayrou.
The message increases the risk that the minority government will be overthrown during the budget negotiations in the autumn. Already on Tuesday evening, harsh criticism came from the opposition.
Abolishing two meaningful public holidays is "a direct attack on our history, our roots, and against French workers," says the leader of the far-right party National Rally, Jordan Bardella.
Left-wing politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon, from the party Unsubdued France, says that "these injustices can no longer be tolerated" and adds that Bayrou should resign.
