A week before the vote of confidence, François Bayrou begins consultations, which appear to be in vain

François Bayrou began a series of political consultations on Monday , apparently in vain, a week before the vote of confidence in the Assembly which should seal the fate of his government, while continuing to defend his method which has been criticized even within his coalition.

The Prime Minister met with leaders of the Communist Party on Monday, and will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday with those of the parties supporting the presidential coalition and those of the National Rally.

RN MP leader Marine Le Pen indicated that she would honor the meeting out of "republican courtesy," but expected "nothing" from it. The RN is primarily focused on a potential dissolution of the Assembly, which it would emerge victorious from according to the polls, for which "our duty is to be ready," she said at a party campaign office on Monday.

Communist leader Fabien Roussel, for his part, denounced to François Bayrou a "shameful" budget and called for a new left-wing prime minister. Normally, expectations would have centered on Thursday morning's meeting with the Socialist Party, whose votes are essential for the government to avoid being overthrown on September 8 by the joint opposition of the left and the National Rally.

But Olivier Faure killed all suspense by insisting that the decision of the Socialists, who volunteered to succeed François Bayrou at Matignon, was "irrevocable." Even François Hollande announced that he would not vote for confidence, criticizing the Prime Minister's "method."

According to Olivier Faure, François Bayrou is making "his farewell tour" by making numerous speeches since his surprise decision a week ago to commit his government to its debt reduction plan through a €44 billion budgetary effort.

The Prime Minister can count on the support of his Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, who urged his party's MPs not to "join the arsonists" who would refuse to vote confidence in François Bayrou, while the LR party is divided on the issue.

François Bayrou continued to defend his position on Sunday. "No courageous policy is possible" without a "minimal agreement" on the "diagnosis," he reiterated. But he dismissed the Socialist Party's budget proposals, which he said constitute "a threat to investment in France."

The Socialist Party proposes, in particular, to halve the budgetary effort desired by François Bayrou and wants to make it weigh "first on the very wealthy" by a 2% tax on assets of more than 100 million euros.

The Prime Minister assures that he is ready to "negotiate," but his criticism of the opposition casts doubt on his true will, even among his majority. National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet acknowledged Monday that "there should perhaps have been more dialogue this summer" and regretted the Prime Minister's "clumsy remarks" about the opposition being "on vacation."

On the substance, she called for the abandonment of the most unpopular measure, the elimination of two public holidays, as did the president of the Hauts-de-France region, Xavier Bertrand (LR). "This plan is unfair, I said so in mid-July, but the Prime Minister has done nothing, changed nothing," he lamented on Franceinfo.

Failing to succeed in negotiating the substance, the consultations of the Prime Minister - who will remain, whatever happens, the leader of a party, the MoDem, with 36 deputies in the Assembly - will perhaps serve to discuss the post-September 8 period.

Neither the Socialists, nor the presidential camp, nor the right are calling for a new dissolution, but can they agree, in the name of "institutional stability," on the formation of a new government that would set aside the "irritants" until 2027, as Yael Braun-Pivet is demanding?

On the left, LFI, which wants an early presidential election, has already warned the socialists that they "will not trust a government that does not carry a program of rupture," according to their leader in the Assembly, Mathilde Panot, on France 2.

Contrary to party leader Bruno Retailleau, LR president of the Île-de-France region, Valérie Pécresse, has also expressed her support for an early presidential election rather than another dissolution. Meanwhile, the political situation continues to be closely monitored abroad. All risks of a government collapse "are worrying," European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde said on Monday.