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2025-09-17 17:06:40
[Undercurrents in French Politics: The New Prime Minister's Game of Threats Amidst the Budget Crisis] ⑴ France's new Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Le Cornu, faces a daunting challenge. His primary task is to negotiate with various political parties over the 2026 budget. The previous prime minister's resignation over austerity measures highlighted the sensitivity of fiscal balance. ⑵ The French Socialist Party has put forward a series of demands, including reversing spending cuts, imposing a new wealth tax on the wealthy, and increasing purchasing power. A poll showed that 86% of respondents support the new wealth tax, while 66% support suspending pension reform, providing significant public support for the Socialist Party. ⑶ However, the Socialist Party faces a political dilemma. Excessive pressure could trigger a deeper political crisis, even forcing the president to call early parliamentary elections, a result that polls suggest is unfavorable to the left. Socialist Party leaders have stated that the party is willing to compromise, but only if the government makes "clear concessions." 4. France currently faces enormous fiscal pressure, with its budget deficit nearly double the EU's 3% ceiling and its debt-to-GDP ratio reaching 114%. Against this backdrop, the new prime minister will need to balance the demands of various parties while ensuring fiscal discipline. 5. This Thursday, unions and left-wing groups plan nationwide protests, focusing not only on the budget but also on wages, pensions, and public services. The government has mobilized approximately 80,000 police officers to prepare for possible blockades and potential violence.
