Overview

• Bayrou has debuted “FB Direct,” a daily podcast and YouTube video series to present and defend his 2026 austerity budget directly to citizens.
• He urges residents to form their own opinions by inviting them to submit questions online, which he will address in subsequent episodes to foster educational dialogue.
• The budget seeks €43.8 billion in savings through a freeze on most state spending, an “année blanche” halting tax, benefits and pension adjustments, and the elimination of two public holidays.
• Without a majority in the National Assembly and under threat of censure from left-wing and Rassemblement National deputies, Bayrou is racing to sway public opinion and deputies ahead of autumn debates.
• Early episodes have attracted modest viewership and drawn criticism over the format’s authenticity and production quality, raising doubts about its persuasive impact.