Budget referendum: Boris Vallaud denounces a "cloud of smoke"

"A cloud of smoke," "a form of grand bluff," or even "dodging a substantive debate"... The leader of the Socialist deputies, Boris Vallaud, is not short of words to express his opposition this Monday, May 5, to a referendum on a "comprehensive plan" for deficit reduction.

This idea was put forward by Prime Minister François Bayrou this weekend in an interview with the JDD, as his government seeks €40 billion in savings for the 2026 budget project to meet its deficit reduction targets of 5.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) this year to 4.6% next year.

Boris Vallaud considers it "curious" that this proposal "has arisen in François Bayrou's mind before any parliamentary debate, any discussion with the deputies, the senators, on the construction of this budget." "We have the impression that it is more a matter of agitation than of method," says the elected representative of Lances, who is also a candidate at the Socialist Party congress.

"What question will he ask the French people?" he asks, recalling that a draft "budget is hundreds and hundreds of pages of figures." While a referendum would not "dispense with a parliamentary debate," Boris Vallaud also emphasizes that it is "necessary" and important for "informing the French people."

Like him, Olivier Faure is unconvinced by François Bayrou's idea. The Socialist Party leader lamented a "rather far-fetched" idea on BFMTV this Sunday evening, calling for a referendum on pensions. This reaction mirrors the skepticism displayed by other political leaders such as Sébastien Chenu (RN), Manuel Bompard (LFI), and Laurent Wauquiez (LR), whose party is nevertheless part of the government's core.

To support the idea of ​​a referendum, François Bayrou emphasized that his "overall plan will require efforts from everyone, and given the scale it must be, it cannot succeed if the French people do not support it," according to him.

By having his plan adopted by referendum, the Prime Minister could seek to rely on a form of legitimacy before a Parliament where his camp is fragile, due to a lack of a majority.

By having his plan approved by referendum, François Bayrou could seek to rely on a form of legitimacy before a Parliament where his camp is fragile, due to a lack of a majority.

"When you reform through traditional channels, through force, what happens? The country goes on strike, and demonstrations follow one after the other," the Prime Minister stressed.

In any case, the final word will rest with the President of the Republic, who has the power to organize referendums. "The Prime Minister is talking about a plan for reforms and savings, and it's difficult to say anything until this plan is presented," a close associate of Emmanuel Macron soberly commented to AFP on Sunday.