Convinced that the French can understand and support a budget that will ask them for many efforts, François Bayrou would like to organize a referendum. Its objective, to take advantage of their support to stand up to opposition during the debates which will take place in the fall in Parliament.
In Visio or on the phone, Emmanuel Macron and François Bayrou talk to each other. Since the Prime Minister announced in the Sunday Journal his intention to organize a referendum on the budget, the exchanges are even regular because the Prime Minister hopes to convince the president who is the only one who can decide on such a consultation.
However, if for the moment the tenant of the Élysée has not emitted a vet, he has not given its green light either. It must be said that the operation is not obvious. What question? In what timing? What to do in case of failure?
There are many questions and the Elysée and Matignon teams are working to provide answers.
An overall plan
“What is certain is that we are in a critical situation, we have to find 40 billion euros. So it’s time to ask essential questions like: what unites us? Are we all attached to our social model?”,, explains a relative of the Prime Minister.
“It is an overall plan that I want to submit, he will ask for efforts from everyone, and by the extent that must be his, he cannot succeed if the French people do not support him”said the Prime Minister to the Sunday Journal.
But why then a referendum on such a complex subject, to which it seems very difficult to answer by yes or by no? Officially, Matignon assures that the Prime Minister’s philosophy still consists in associating the greatest number. And to quote for example the consultations of parliamentarians on proportional.
“Each time, he has no hidden agenda, he really starts from a white sheet even if he has his own convictions”assures us those around him.
Leave or double
But this desire to associate the French is not without ulterior motives. François Bayrou knows that the vote of the budget in the fall is more uncertain than ever.
Marine Le Pen is already threatening to censor the government, just like part of the LR and the left. If he obtained popular support, the Prime Minister would have more weight to scramble in the hemicycle in the face of political groups sometimes more concerned with their immediate electoral interests than the destiny of the country.
“The French are often more responsible than certain political leaders, they are more aware of the urgency in which we find ourselves”, Do we breathe around the Prime Minister.
Go back to the countryside
On Monday, this same entourage suggested that François Bayrou would, on the other hand, draw all the consequences of a failure and that in the event of a negative response he would resign to the President of the Republic. A way of responding to his opponents who claim that the Béarnais has no other objective than to remain in post as long as possible even if it means renouncing reforms. The fact remains that his referendum initiative is not to the taste of deputies who see it as a maneuver to circumvent the Assembly.
“It is not a good idea”, assured the RN Sébastien Chenu. “It does not make sense, I even doubt that the Constitutional Council lets do this”told the Parisian the rebellious Éric Coquerel.
“It seems pretty wacky”judged the socialist Olivier Faure. Within the common base the idea of leaving in the campaign does not delight anyone. But François Bayrou does not despair of convincing at least his own troops without whom nothing will be possible. His entourage assures him: “He receives deputies every day. He arrives very early in Matignon and leaves very late”. Will that be enough?
