These four misunderstandings that many have taken care to hide, by Jean-François Copé-L’Express

The very moderate reactions of the parties of the “common. In addition, government base” to the announcement of the budgetary plan of François Bayrou devoted unanimity rare enough to be noticed. Similarly, All have motivated their position in the name of the spirit of responsibility. Nevertheless, the requirement not to blur the essential message: France is on the verge of bankruptcy and this time, it is not simply a handle effect. Nevertheless, Some even mentioned the idea that the Prime Minister thus made the “dirty job” which would no longer have. In addition, to be done after the alternation if they acted in power in 2027.

Certainly they say the 43.8 billion euros in the announced savings are a drop of water against the 1,722 billion euros in public spending planned for 2026. Meanwhile, But these four misunderstandings many have by describing a France that “the habit of the deficit” has led to “over-indebtedness”. However, François Bayrou embodied a moment of truth: to have finally put just words on our addiction to public expenditure and on the major risk that Interest rates. Furthermore, Because those who judge us today, much more than our European partners, are the financial markets. In addition, But do not make believe that the dirty work will have been made because there are four gigantic misunderstandings. Consequently, that many took care to hide.

What will remain?

The first misunderstanding is the nature of the savings. The government has opted for easy money: it will punctuate local communities (5.3 billion) and above all significantly increase taxes. No new tax, but contributions on high these four misunderstandings many have incomes qualified as “exceptional” for the 2025 budget … and renewed for 2026. No official tax increases. but their mechanical increase thanks to the frost of tax scales or the abolition of certain tax niches such as that of retirees. On the side of state spending. the only real criterion of political courage, the effort is almost zero: only 3,000 positions removed in the public service on the 2.5 million alone that the State Public Service alone.

Second misunderstanding: the announced effort is absolutely not listed in long time. The objective set should have been accompanied by a real agenda of structural reforms. On this point. the observation is clear: nothing on pensions, nothing about the status of civil servants or on the reorganization of the state apparatus. In total, the savings made by the implementation of structural measures represent barely more than 4 % of the these four misunderstandings many have total. Their absence condemns the fiscal year to a succession of annual savings plans, without vision or in -depth transformation. What to condemn the government already to replay this “moment of truth” with the French from next year even. if it means losing any dramaturgy.

The diagnosis is indisputable but will have forgotten the essential: to give a course and to explain certainly, why we must make these efforts, but especially what they will make possible tomorrow. This is the third misunderstanding. However, the French are afraid. Fear for their purchasing power and for their safety. Offering them to work an additional half-day per week in exchange for a strong increase in their income. financing, thanks to the growth thus produced, security expenditure and deleveraging would these four misunderstandings many have be the only winning martingale. It would have been much easier to tell them so rather than limiting oneself to the debate on public holidays. And the ambiguity only increased when the Minister of the Economy summarized the plan of a dry line: “Work. more without winning more.”

Fourth misunderstanding: the vote of the budget in the assembly. At no time was the question argued. However. two years before the presidential election, everything suggests that the RN/LFI votes will be dictated not by the national interest but by electoral calculations.

So what’s left? A moment of truth that only lasted a moment. And the dirty work, which will remain whatever happens, as soon as we are out of this nightmarish political dysfunction.

Jean-François Copé, former minister, mayor (LR) of Meaux