Political Tensions Surround Prime Minister Bayrou Amid Criticism and Defense
Prime Minister Bayrou confronts political criticism as he defends his leadership and work ethic amid pension reform disputes.
Key Points
- • Manuel Bompard criticizes Bayrou's conclave as a failure, claiming support exists for repealing pension reform.
- • Bayrou denies participating in political dinners, asserting a rigorous daily work schedule.
- • A motion of censure from the Socialist Party is expected to fail due to lack of support from the National Rally.
- • Bayrou aims to introduce a proportional representation bill by the year's end.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou finds himself at the center of escalating political tensions as opposition leaders criticize his leadership style and governance, particularly regarding the controversial pension reforms. On June 29, 2025, Manuel Bompard, a deputy from La France insoumise (LFI), labeled Bayrou's recent 'conclave' as a failure during the program 'Questions politiques'. Bompard asserted that a majority exists in the National Assembly that could support the repeal of the pension reform, stating, "If President Macron had respected the election results, the retirement age would be set to 62 years" (Research Item 8658).
In response to these criticisms, Prime Minister Bayrou has doubled down on defending his work ethic. He issued a strong denial against allegations of having lengthy political dinners at Matignon, claiming, "I never have political dinners," and insisting he works from 7:30 AM to midnight every day (Research Item 8664). Bayrou is facing a motion of censure from the opposition Socialist Party, though it is expected to fail due to the lack of support from other political factions, particularly the National Rally, which has decided not to back the motion.
Despite the political turbulence, Bayrou is optimistic about legislative initiatives, including plans to push for a bill on proportional representation before the end of the year. He condemned the recent actions by the Socialist Party regarding the censure motion, characterizing them as a "joke." The political landscape remains fraught as Bayrou navigates the impending budget debates for 2026 and fights to maintain control amid claims of inaction, particularly due to his minority status in the National Assembly. \n
In summary, François Bayrou's leadership faces critical scrutiny and defense efforts amid a backdrop of proposed legislative changes and ongoing political rivalries.