Government: a high-risk return to school for François Bayrou

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Between the risk of censorship and the threat of blockage, a week of high tension awaits François Bayrou. On Monday, August 25, at 4 p.m., he will speak . Will he defuse social anger? It's not a given, given the accumulating sources of friction, including with the CGT. " This is a budget that relies primarily on the efforts that workers, retirees, the precarious, and the sick must make. In short, it's absolutely unacceptable," summarizes Gérard Ré, the CGT's confederal secretary.

On Tuesday, he will make another speech before Marylise Léon and the CFDT (French Trade Union Confederation), another opportunity to ease the pressure. The mission, once again, is complicated. His letter of intent on the proposed umpteenth unemployment insurance reform this summer has united the employee unions against him. In a press release, they warn: "Workers will not let this happen."

The challenge for François Bayrou? Avoiding the paralysis of the country. Because the "We're blocking everything on September 10" movement is spreading across social media. Will he find allies at the MEDEF (French employers' association), which he's meeting on Thursday? Michel Picon, president of the Union of Local Businesses (U2P), supports his policy. " The desire to reduce debt is important. The reform of unemployment insurance, to put more people to work, more young people, more seniors too, is important. We don't need a social movement that would block the country," he believes.

The Prime Minister will also have to deal with the opposition. " We are obviously behind the social movement, which is now fed up with this government, a government that mistreats social dialogue, that mistreats employees' rights, " warns Arthur Delaporte, a member of parliament for the Socialists and Allies group in Calvados.