France’s prime minister has made a last-ditch effort to save his job with an impassioned speech urging lawmakers to back his plan to reduce the country’s €3.3trn (£2.86trn) debt.
Francois Bayrou is expected to be toppled in a confidence vote on Monday evening. But addressing the country’s National Assembly, the 74-year-old stuck to his position on France’s debts.
Arguing the country’s spiralling public deficits are threatening the future of the European Union’s second-largest economy, Mr Bayrou said state debts will weigh on future generations and leave France vulnerable to foreign creditors.
“Our country works, thinks it’s getting richer, but keeps getting poorer,” he said, pausing for sips of water when hecklers tried to drown him out.
Mr Bayou has proposed to cut a huge €44bn (£38.1bn) in spending in 2026.
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But his plan – which includes the removal of two public holidays – has been heavily criticised by his political rivals, who now see a golden opportunity to bring him down.
Addressing the confidence vote, he said: “Our country has an urgent need for lucidity, it has the most urgent need for unity. But it is division that threatens to prevail, that threatens its image and reputation.”
Read more: France’s spending crisis explained
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Mr Bayrou also appealed to assembly members to vote with their conscience.
He said: “I am speaking to you by taking our principles literally, principles set out in article 27 of the constitution: ‘The right to vote of members of parliament is personal’.
“This means that, in principle, slogans have no place here. What does have a place here is the personal conscience of each of the nation’s members of parliament.”
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If, as expected, Mr Bayrou loses the confidence vote, he’ll be required to submit the resignation of his minority government to President Emmanuel Macron.
Mr Macron will then face finding another government chief – the country’s third in 12 months.
