“They are moments in the history of the peoples where they have an appointment with themselves, and this moment is one of them.” It was with these words, with a serious tone, that François Bayrou began his speech to present his savings plan for France. Expected at the turn by oppositions, the Prime Minister unrolled his roadmap, Tuesday, July 15, To save not 40 billion euros as initially mentioned, but almost 44 billion. Objective: to get the country out of the “curse” debt and reduce the budget deficit to 2.8% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2029.
“Tout the world will have to participate in the effort in the face of the extent of the issue “warned the head of government, with the exception of the defense sector, due to the international context with the war in Ukraine and the war in the Gaza Strip. Among the measures announced: spending freezing in 2026 via a “White year” and the removal of two holidays. It is still necessary that this plan passes the CAP of Parliament in the fall, as part of the Buget 2026 exam, with a high risk, for François Bayrou, to be censored. Here is what to remember from the main announcements.
Make 2026 a “white year”
It was one of the red lines not to be crossed for certain opponents. François Bayrou confirmed that 2026 would be “A white year” in terms of public spending. This measurement Allows the government not to increase social benefits (retirement pensions, family allowances, social minimum, APL …) from one year to the next, despite inflation. “A white year is a year when we will have exactly the same amount of pensions as that we had in 2025”notably illustrated the Prime Minister.
“The scales of income tax and general social contribution will also be maintained at their level this year”added François Bayrou, which will mechanically lead to an increase in taxes. The head of government has minimized the consequences of this white year for purchasing power, due to almost “Disappearance of the inflation that awaits us”.
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Reduce the number of officials
The State, for “Show the example”will freeze his expenses in 2026 at 2025, “With the exception of the increase in debt burden and additional expenses for the armies’ budget”stated François Bayrou. On the side of civil servants, “There will be no general or categorization measures in the ministries”announced the Prime Minister, adding that “The progress rules in the career of civil servants” will however be “Integrately respected”.
The Prime Minister also wants to set up “A rule of non-replacement of one in three retired officials” and the reduction of “3 000” Public jobs next year, with the exception of student-professional positions. François Bayrou has also announced that he wanted to merge or delete certain agencies “Unproductive” From the state, a project that has been in pipes for several weeks.
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The Head of Government also wants to sell part of the state heritage, by creating a land company to take care of it, and give in its participations in certain companies.
Remove two holidays: Easter Monday and May 8
This idea was also in the pipes And she particularly reacts. It was confirmed by François Bayrou. In order to “Work more” pour “Produce more”the head of government proposes to suppress two holidays, namely the Easter Monday, “which has no religious meaning”and May 8, the day of the Armistice of the Second World War. According to the Prime Minister, the “May has become a real Gruyère, where we jump from bridges in leave viaduct”.
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While ensuring that this measure would report “Several billion in the state budget”François Bayrou said he was open to negotiations. “These are proposals, I am ready to accept or examine others if other ideas arise, welcome”he slipped.
Less reimburse medication
On the Social Security side, François Bayrou wants “Responsibility patients so that the cost of health is more concrete for our fellow citizens”. He plans to“initiate a reform in depth of care ” Long -term conditions (ALD) with, “As early as 2026, measures aimed at leaving the reimbursement at 100% of drugs which are unrelated to declared conditions”.
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Still in the health sector, the medical franchise ceiling will also be doubled. “Whenever we buy a box of drugs, we pay a game” [1 euro par boîte]with a fixed ceiling “at 50 euros per year”said François Bayrou. “We will push this ceiling at 100 euros”he added, without specifying if the ceiling would only concern the boxes of medication or other expenses of care subject to franchise (medical acts and health transport).
Reform unemployment insurance
Believing that“It is not normal for a country like ours, with so many jobs offered, retains an unemployment rate above 7%”François Bayrou will offer two negotiations to the social partners on unemployment insurance and labor law. The Minister of Labor, Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet, then said thatThe wish that these discussions ended before the end of the year.
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A reform of unemployment insurance carried by Gabriel Attal had been suspended and then abandoned due to the dissolution. But the ex-Prime Minister recently filed a new bill aimed at shortening the payment time of the allowance (from eighteen to fifteen months) and an increase in the number of days worked to be eligible for a service (eight months against six currently).
François Bayrou also brought up to date an old campaign promise by Emmanuel Macron by offering to create “A unified social allowance”which would merge several social benefits (RSA, activity bonus …).
Replace the tax reduction of retirees with a package
To save money, François Bayrou also intends to remove the tax reduction of 10% on retirees’ income, a tax niche which also applies to alimony and disability pensions. This measure would affect all taxable retirees, or 14.96 million households.
This abatement had been introduced in 1978 under Valéry Giscard d’Estaing to put the retirees equally with the assets. Its abolition would mechanically enter homes into the second tax tranche (from 11,498 euros to 29,315 euros), from which a person is taxable. In compensation, the Prime Minister has announced the creation of an annual package, “This will make it possible to advantaging small pensions, guaranteeing an unchanged purchasing power to average pensions and to put the most important pensions into ordinary law”. This package will be From 2,000 euros per year, said Eric Lombard, Minister of the Economy, on France 2.
Create a “solidarity contribution” for “higher income”
Hammering that “The nation’s effort must be equitable” To straighten public finances, the head of government has announced the creation of a “Solidarity contribution” for the French “The wealthiest”without further specifying the contours of this proposal. This contribution “will have to involve the highest income national effort”said François Bayrou, also recalling his will to “Fight against the abusive optimization of non -productive heritage”.
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