France eyes holiday cuts to slash debt burden
Presenting his 2026 budget outline, Bayrou proposed scrapping two of France's 11 public holidays, suggesting Easter Monday and May 8, the latter marking the end of World War II in Europe.
UNDER PRESSURE TO CUT DEFICIT
France is under EU pressure to bring its public deficit back under control and reduce its national debt.
Bayrou said France currently borrows each month to pay pensions and civil servant salaries, a situation he described as "a curse with no way out".
He had previously indicated that France needed to improve its budget position by €40 billion (US$46.5 billion) in 2026. That figure has since grown, after President Emmanuel Macron called for an additional €3.5 billion in military spending next year amid rising global tensions.
France's defence budget for 2025 stands at €50.5 billion.
Bayrou said the government aims to cut the budget deficit from an estimated 5.4 per cent in 2025 to 4.6 per cent in 2026, and to meet the EU-mandated 3 per cent target by 2029.
To meet this goal, spending increases will be frozen across all areas — including pensions and healthcare — except for debt servicing and the defence sector, Bayrou said.
"We have become addicted to public spending," he said. "We are at a critical juncture in our history."
GREECE AS A WARNING
Bayrou cited Greece as a warning, recalling how spiralling deficits nearly forced it out of the eurozone after the 2008 financial crisis.
"We must never forget the story of Greece," he warned.
France's national debt is currently 114 per cent of gross domestic product, far exceeding the 60 per cent ceiling set under EU fiscal rules. Only Greece and Italy carry higher debt levels in the EU.
The government plans to reduce the number of civil servants by 3,000 next year and shut down what Bayrou called 'unproductive agencies working on behalf of the state.'
Bayrou also said wealthier citizens would be asked to contribute more.
"The nation's effort must be equitable. We will ask little of those who have little, and more of those who have more," he said.
Cutting two public holidays would generate 'several billions of euros' in additional revenue, Bayrou said.
POLITICAL BACKLASH
The proposal quickly drew criticism across the political spectrum. Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally, called the move 'a direct attack on our history, our roots and on labour in France.'
Jean-Luc Melenchon of the left-wing France Unbowed party demanded Bayrou's resignation, saying 'these injustices cannot be tolerated any longer.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
World Aquatics C'ships in S'pore deemed as success by athletes, fans and officials
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox French swim star Leon Marchand was among the athletes who thrilled at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. SINGAPORE – It had not been the most ideal of starts for the World Aquatics Championships (WCH) in Singapore, with sparse crowds at the water polo and artistic swimming competitions, and a one-day delay to open water swimming due to high levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria off Sentosa. But, as the 24-day competition progressed, the Republic recovered well and has earned praise from athletes, officials and fans alike as the flagship aquatics event was staged in South-east Asia for the first time. Originally awarded to Kazan, Russia, the competition was relocated in 2023 after World Aquatics stripped the country of hosting rights following its invasion of Ukraine. 'For any major multi-sport competition, it has its challenges,' said Mark Chay, co-chair of the WCH Singapore 2025 organising committee. 'I'm proud and happy to see our local organising committee come together, be nimble, agile, to actually tackle some of these. 'This puts us in a good position to host more major international events in the future. On the horizon is the 2029 SEA Games (in Singapore), and these are valuable learning points. 'With the WCH, we've shown the world that Singapore is a destination for global sporting events.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore launches review of economic strategy to stay ahead of global shifts Singapore A look at the five committees reviewing Singapore's economic strategy World Trump says he will 'substantially' raise tariffs on India over Russian oil purchases Singapore Strong S'pore-Australia ties underpinned by bonds that are continually renewed: President Tharman Singapore All recruits at BMTC will be trained to fly drones and counter them: Chan Chun Sing Sport Singaporean swimmer Gan Ching Hwee at 'crossroads' after World Aquatics C'ships display Singapore Ong Beng Seng to be sentenced on Aug 15, prosecution does not object to fine due to his poor health Singapore Pritam Singh had hoped WP would 'tip one or two more constituencies' at GE2025 World-class acts, facilities Despite initial concerns, a total of about 140,000 spectators attended the July 11-Aug 3 event to watch a record field comprising nearly 2,500 athletes from 206 countries and territories in action at three venues: the purpose-built 4,800-seater WCH Arena, OCBC Aquatic Centre and Sentosa. There were also sell-out sessions at the finals of diving, swimming, water polo and artistic swimming. At the WCH Arena, fans were treated to world-class swimming action, including three world records – in the men's 200m individual medley, mixed 4x100m freestyle and women's 4x100m medley – and 12 championship records. Beyond the action, many athletes The Straits Times spoke with lauded Singapore for its efficiency and facilities. David Popovici, who completed the 100m and 200m freestyle double in Singapore, was one of them. He said: 'My favourite thing is that you see green everywhere. You see nature everywhere and I think that's great. Everyone here has been so civilised and polite. I'm sure a lot of other countries could learn from that.' On the organisation of the event, the Romanian, who was making his third appearance at the world meet, said he had not witnessed or heard of any issues. 'Even my family said that it's amazing how fast the queues go, how well organised everyone is,' he noted. He found the makeshift venue to be 'just as good as all the other good ones' he has been in, adding: 'I put it very high up (on my list).' David Popovici of Romania clinching gold in the men's 200m freestyle final at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on July 29, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY German diver Lena Hentschel, a bronze medallist at the 2023 edition, said: ' I feel like Singapore has done amazing, I've only heard good feedback, not just from our teammates but other teams from around the world. 'The venue (OCBC Aquatic Centre) is great, the hotels are good, everything worked really well, so we can't complain and we would love to come back.' Canadian swimmer Joshua Liendo, 22, had a similarly positive experience and hopes to see more meets held here. Asked what could have been better, he said he would have loved to see more fans at the 4,800-capacity WCH Arena. In comparison, the Aspire Dome at the 2024 edition in Doha could accommodate up to 8,000. He said: 'Maybe a bigger stand size to get some more crowd and for it to be louder. I mean, I've loved the energy but if there's some more fans, that'd be pretty sweet.' Mixed experience for fans Spectators relished the rare chance to catch aquatic sports at the highest level. Product manager Ng Eng Han, who watched the water polo and swimming events, said: 'With this world-class event coming to our doorstep, it's a massive opportunity to see world champions and record holders live.' For first-time visitor Phillip Hawke, whose son Charlie helped Australia win bronze in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay, the experience was seamless. The 52-year-old said: 'It's a great venue, transport is easy and the volunteers are fantastic. We hope to see Singapore host more of these swim meets.' However, not all feedback was glowing, with fans frustrated by unallocated seating in the WCH Arena. While she enjoyed the events, Suzhou native Wu Yihong, who watched several days of the swimming competition, said she had to arrive at least three hours early each day to secure a good seat to cheer on the Chinese swimmers. 'In most of the competitions I have been to, I get to choose my seat number so I try to choose closer to the pool,' said the 20-year-old, who also travelled to the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2022 Budapest championships. 'But here, people can sit anywhere they want to, so there is a need to come as early as possible to ensure I can get in early and sit where I want to.' David Marsh, 63, who flew in from Thailand with his wife and nine-year-old son, noted that the experience had been mainly good, but said the unnumbered seats resulted in disruptions during races. The corporate safety manager in oil and gas said: 'We saw a few people get angry and lose their patience because the start of a race and people just arriving, or just at the end of the race when things are getting exciting and people are trying to find seats.' Despite efforts such as community roadshows at nine malls across Singapore to promote the event, some were surprised by the lack of local fans. These roadshows featured interactive stations offering experiences such as simulating standing on a high diving platform through virtual reality among other activities. Ng, 38, enjoyed connecting with other spectators, but noted that the majority of those he interacted with were foreign fans. Public servant Eleanor Lim, who brought her niece to watch the artistic swimming competition, felt it was a missed opportunity to promote the sports here. The 34-year-old said: 'When I asked my friends, they barely knew it was happening. 'It's a waste because there are world records being broken and you're trying to promote swimming in Singapore, but it's just that people don't know about it and I thought that was a pity because it's a huge thing .' Leaving a legacy As the event drew to a close, World Aquatics executive director Brent Nowicki did not rule out a return to the Republic, calling Singapore 'a fantastic host'. He said: 'You stepped in on this event from Kazan, so it wasn't like we have been talking for four years... 'We went fast track, and you stood tall, you got a great pool, a great facility and a great competition calendar.' For many local athletes, including national swimmer Letitia Sim, competing on home ground was particularly meaningful. The 22-year-old said: 'There are a lot of younger kids coming in to watch and that's really good to help hopefully motivate people that this can be them in the future.' National coach and performance director Gary Tan was heartened to see efforts to engage the wider community through initiatives such as clinics involving World Aquatics ambassadors, but stressed that it was important to build on the experience of hosting this meet. One key question remains about the future of the WCH Arena. At a pre-event press conference, WCH 2025 organising committee co-chair Alan Goh said authorities were considering retaining the facility to help athletes prepare for the 2029 SEA Games and for public use. Tan said: 'What's important is, you've got to see it's a carry through. 'Hopefully this would be a catalyst for us in the next world champs in Budapest, knowing that we've really gained the experience to compete at the world's championships and seen it on our doorsteps, how do we get better?'
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
EU to suspend US tariff countermeasures for 6 months
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox BRUSSELS - The European Union will suspend its two packages of countermeasures to U.S. tariffs for six months following a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump, a Commission spokesperson said on Monday. The EU-U.S. agreement leaves many questions open, including tariff rates on spirits, and Trump's executive order last week setting tariffs on most EU goods at 15% did not include carve-outs such as for cars and car parts. EU officials have said they expect more executive orders to follow soon. "The EU continues to work with the U.S. to finalise a Joint Statement, as agreed on 27 July," the spokesperson said in a statement. "With these objectives in mind, the Commission will take the necessary steps to suspend by 6 months the EU's countermeasures against the US, which were due to enter into force on 7 August." The retaliatory tariffs are in two parts: one in response to U.S. steel and aluminium duties, and the other to Trump's baseline and car tariffs. REUTERS
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Electric car-sharing firm BlueSG to wind down current operations on Aug 8, lay off staff
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – BlueSG will wind down its current operations on Aug 8 at 11.59pm, the electric car-sharing company announced on Aug 4. It added that billing, account closures, and subscription adjustments and refunds will be managed until the end of the month. It said that it is embarking on a major platform upgrade to better serve the 'evolving needs of urban mobility' in Singapore. The upgraded platform will introduce a refreshed fleet, an expanded network with more pickup and drop-off points, and enhanced technology that will enable it to be more reliable and efficient. A BlueSG spokeswoman said the company is laying off staff, but did not disclose the number of employees affected. This, she said, 'reflects the reduced operational scale during the pause period'. 'We are working closely with affected employees to provide fair severance, career support and, where possible, explore redeployment opportunities within the wider group,' she added, noting that the company hopes to welcome back employees when new roles open up with the upgrade. The new service is slated for launch in 2026. BlueSG was bought by Goldbell, a Singapore commercial and industrial vehicle giant, in 2021 from Bollore Group, a French conglomerate that introduced the service here in 2017. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore launches review of economic strategy to stay ahead of global shifts Singapore A look at the five committees reviewing Singapore's economic strategy Business More support for sectors and workers vulnerable to tech disruptions, global competition Business Singapore to tap advanced manufacturing, AI under strategic review Singapore Strong S'pore-Australia ties underpinned by bonds that are continually renewed: President Tharman Singapore All recruits at BMTC will be trained to fly drones and counter them: Chan Chun Sing Singapore Ong Beng Seng to be sentenced on Aug 15, prosecution does not object to fine due to his poor health Singapore Pritam Singh had hoped WP would 'tip one or two more constituencies' at GE2025 It is the only service that offers per-minute rental and an A-to-B service, where users return the cars at a different location from the one they picked them up from. BlueSG chief executive Keith Kee said: 'As the landscape evolved and we observed the potential scale of car-sharing users, it became clear that the current infrastructure of BlueSG needs to be upgraded fast to meet the demands of tomorrow. 'That's why we're taking bold steps now to pause, minimise distractions and focus our resources on delivering a completely new platform.' The upgrade will be designed from the ground up, the company said. Existing users of the platform can look forward to exclusive privileges at the launch of the new service. Further updates, including timeline, features and launch plans will be announced in the coming months, BlueSG added. The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) said it has worked with BlueSG to create a dedicated channel to address matters related to the refund of credits and outstanding bills. Those who need help may approach Case via its hotline on 6277-5100 or its website at BlueSG was launched in 2017 as the first electric car-sharing service in Singapore and as part of the Land Transport Authority's pilot programme for a national-level electric vehicle car-sharing initiative. The company now runs a fleet of almost 1,000 electric vehicles, with more than 1,500 charging points. The BlueSG spokeswoman said that since Goldbell acquired the car-sharing service in 2021, the platform has grown its subscriber base from 140,000 to more than 250,000. The company declined to disclose the number of active users when asked by The Straits Times. Currently, BlueSG offers three tiers of membership – the basic level is free, while the other two levels, which cost $8 and $18 a month, offer different privileges. Between 2023 and the second quarter of 2024, BlueSG underwent a 'technical migration' to stabilise the platform and improve the user experience. This was done without any disruption to service, although there were user complaints during the transition, which included issues with booking cars, as well as billing. The BlueSG spokeswoman said: 'Through that migration, it also became clear that the current infrastructure needed a decisive, future-ready upgrade – one that could better support the changing mobility landscape. Emerging technological advancements also reinforced the urgency to act decisively.' The company is evaluating new models that will gradually replace the old cars in the fleet. Dr Victor Kwan, a senior lecturer from Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) who researches marketing-related subjects, was surprised that the company decided to take such a long break to make the transition instead of making an immediate switchover when the new platform is ready. He believes that users will leave for alternatives during the interim instead of waiting for the relaunch, so BlueSG will basically be restarting its business from scratch, besides bearing the cost of its car fleet sitting idle during the interim. Mr Vincent Low, 46, a sales manager in the energy sector, said it is the 'right move' for BlueSG to temporarily cease operations while it upgrades its platform. He recalled having problems booking cars when BlueSG last did the major upgrade and how the system has been 'very unstable' since. He looks forward to the upgraded platform, noting that BlueSG has recently introduced more types of rental packages and charging stations in more locations. 'They are making efforts, but (I) can see that their internal (affairs) are in a mess. They need time to do housekeeping and (to) put everything back on track,' he said. Ms Aisyah Mazlan, 28, an engineer, who uses BlueSG daily to take her 13-year-old brother to school before driving to work, hopes that after making users like her wait so long for the upgrade, 'the improvements had better be worth it'.
