2026 Budget: Opposition threatens to censure the government, Macron's party hails a "moment of courage"

From the opposition to the threat of censure, to Macron's party hailing "a moment of courage": these are the main reactions to the cost-cutting measures announced Tuesday by the Prime Minister to reduce the public deficit .

Marine Le Pen, MP and departmental councillor for Pas-de-Calais (RN), wrote on Twitter that "this government prefers to attack the French people, workers and retirees, rather than hunt down waste (...). If François Bayrou doesn't revise his copy, we will censor him."

For Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally : "The elimination of two public holidays, which are otherwise as meaningful as Easter Monday and May 8, is a direct attack on our history, our roots, and the France of work. No National Rally MP will accept this measure, which is provocative."

Eric Ciotti, UDR (ally of the RN), assures that "blood and tears for the French, la dolce vita for the obese State (...). We are making the French pay for the negligence of the political class, without any serious savings on immigration or public spending!"

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, LFI, writes: "Making the masses pay to spare the very rich (...) Be careful, we are approaching the point of no return. Destruction and injustice must no longer be accepted. It is urgent to put an end to Macron's rule. Bayrou must go."

"Bayrou declares social war. Elimination of two public holidays, non-replacement of one in three civil servants, delisting of medications, attack on unemployment insurance, on sick leave, privatizations (...). We will censor this policy of misfortune," also shares Mathilde Panot of LFI on X (Twitter).

Marine Tondelier, Green Party: "François Bayrou is therefore proposing that May 8, which commemorates the victory over Nazism, no longer be a public holiday. How exactly should we understand this?"

"Asking more and more from those who have little... and so little from those who have a lot is neither serious, effective, nor fair. A brutal and unacceptable budget," asserts Boris Vallaud, Socialist Party member.

"This isn't a budget, it's a purge. 40 years of political life doing nothing, and Bayrou is telling the French people that they're going to have to work harder without gaining anything. When will he leave?" says Ian Brossat of the French Communist Party.

Finally, François Ruffin, Debout: "Bayrou is announcing a dark year. Budgets frozen, the sick targeted, state assets sold off, retirees targeted, the precarious weakened, public holidays sacrificed... But what about record dividends? The great fortunes? The Gafam? Nothing. No acceptable effort without justice (...). There will be censorship, of course."

"The moment of truth. A moment of courage. A comprehensive plan, with efforts distributed fairly and justly (...). It is now up to all of us, citizens, committed people, public officials, to rise to the occasion," writes Marc Fesneau, MoDem.

Hervé Marseille, UDI: "The Prime Minister has the courage to speak truthfully. Now is the time to make choices; everyone must be able to contribute their fair share. It will be up to Parliament to act responsibly."

"Once again, it is mainly the middle classes who will be called upon to contribute, even though it is through their mobilization and their hard work that the country can get out of this: yet another contradiction!" concedes Xavier Bertrand, LR.