French PM Bayrou Talks to the Nation as Protests Loom

French Prime Minister François Bayrou is set to speak to the public on Monday, facing a restless nation as protests could flare up in September over the unpopular 2023 pension reform.

That change, which pushed the retirement age from 62 to 64, still has many people upset, and it’s putting Bayrou’s shaky government in a tough spot as he tries to keep a divided parliament together.

Bayrou’s speech comes at a tricky time. France is grappling with money troubles, and political rivals, especially the Socialists and the far-right National Rally, are piling on the pressure.

The pension reform, a big part of President Emmanuel Macron’s plan, was supposed to save €17 billion a year but led to huge protests back in 2023. Now, Bayrou is open to tweaking parts of the reform to get leftist support for next year’s budget, but that risks ticking off his conservative allies.

• French PM François Bayrou to Address Nation Amid Pension Reform Protests
• Bayrou Faces Rising Debt, Divided Parliament, and Unrest Over Pension Age
• France’s Bayrou Prepares Speech as September Protests Threaten Government

In his talk, Bayrou will likely share how he plans to keep things steady and tackle economic challenges, like a budget shortfall expected to hit 6% of GDP in 2024. He’s called France’s growing debt a “huge weight hanging over us” and stressed the need to be smart with spending. He’s also suggested a three-month sit-down with unions and businesses to revisit pension rules, though he’s made it clear he won’t drop the retirement age back to 62, which limits his options.

The opposition isn’t helping. The Socialists want major changes to the pension reform, while Marine Le Pen’s far-right group might pounce if they see weakness. Bayrou’s government, which took over after the last one fell apart, could face a no-confidence vote, with the hard-left France Unbowed already pushing back.

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With financial markets and EU officials watching France’s rising debt closely, Bayrou needs to balance these pressures and keep protests at bay to hold his government together. His speech will aim to clear things up and ease the public’s frustrations.