Marine Le Pen Threatens to Overthrow the French Government

The head of the National Rally parliamentary group, Marine Le Pen, has declared her readiness to force the resignation of the French government in response to Prime Minister François Bayrou’s new budget reforms. Her strong reaction was prompted by an anti-crisis package that includes tax increases for wealthy citizens, cuts to public spending, and the cancellation of certain national holidays—including Victory Day on May 8.

Bayrou’s Plan: Cutbacks, Reductions, and Cancellations

At a press conference on July 15, Prime Minister François Bayrou announced a comprehensive plan to reduce France’s budget deficit by €43.8 billion in 2026, aiming to lower the national debt, which has already reached €3.3 trillion. Among the most controversial measures are:

Cutting healthcare spending from €10 billion to €5 billion;

Freezing pension and social benefit indexation at the previous year’s level, with no adjustment for inflation;

Introducing an additional “solidarity contribution” tax for the wealthiest citizens;

Eliminating 3,000 public sector jobs and shutting down inefficient government agencies;

Cancelling two national holidays—Easter Monday and Victory Day on May 8. According to Bayrou, this will increase working days and add billions of euros to the state budget.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the reforms will not affect the defense sector: in fact, in 2026, the defense budget will be increased by €6.5 billion.

Le Pen’s Reaction: Ultimatum and Threat of No Confidence

Marine Le Pen, leader of the opposition National Rally faction, sharply condemned the government’s proposals. On her account on X (formerly Twitter), she criticized both incumbent President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Bayrou for “catastrophic mismanagement” and shifting the financial burden onto citizens through new taxes and reduced social benefits.

Le Pen warned that if the government does not revise its approach to the budget, her party will initiate a vote of no confidence against the cabinet. She also suggested alternative measures—such as cutting spending on migrant reception and reducing France’s contributions to the EU budget—instead of depriving the French people of their national holidays.

The initiative to abolish Victory Day on May 8—a symbolic date marking the end of World War II in Europe—provoked particular outrage from Le Pen and her supporters. According to some observers and the publication Politico, this step may generate the greatest public backlash.

Le Pen’s Party Prospects: Popularity and Legal Troubles

The National Rally remains the most popular political force in France and, according to experts, could win the presidential elections in 2027. Nevertheless, Marine Le Pen faces serious legal challenges: in March 2025, the Paris Criminal Court sentenced her to four years in prison (two suspended and two under house arrest) and banned her from running for office due to a case involving embezzlement of European Parliament funds. Le Pen, however, has stated she does not intend to withdraw from the race for the presidency.

Moreover, on July 9, the National Rally headquarters was searched as part of an investigation into alleged violations of campaign financing rules. According to party chairman Jordan Bardella, police seized accounting documents and emails, leaving the party’s future uncertain.