French Minister of Economy François Bayrou has launched a podcast on platforms including YouTube and Facebook Live to discuss and promote the 2026 budget. At 74 years old, Bayrou is using this new medium to explain the government’s plan to reduce deficits while presenting the necessary fiscal efforts as manageable for the French population. The government faces the challenge of convincing the public and parliament of the credibility of its deficit reduction strategy. In parallel, the government is revisiting the unified social allowance after a decade of debate. The 2026 budget will require most ministries to tighten their spending, while federal forces such as the Police, Gendarmerie, and Prefecture are set to receive pay increases starting August 2025.