French Prime Minister François Bayrou has expanded his 2026 austerity programme by pledging to root out and eliminate what he called “indefensible privileges” enjoyed by current and former officials. In a video released on 22 August, Bayrou said the government will commission former Socialist lawmaker René Dosière—long known for tracking public-spending abuses—to catalogue and recommend the suppression of any excessive benefits, from staff allowances to lifetime car services. The initiative is part of a broader effort to extract roughly €44 billion in savings next year. Key elements already unveiled include an “année blanche” that will freeze most state outlays, including ministers’ pay and major welfare benefits, and a suggestion to give up two public holidays. Bayrou said demonstrating that politicians are sharing the burden is essential to rebuilding public trust. Opposition parties swiftly reacted. The far-right National Rally said it would present a “counter-budget” and plans to join a nationwide protest on 10 September. Left-wing France Unbowed deputy François Piquemal announced a censure motion set for 23 September, while Horizons lawmaker Xavier Albertini predicted any such vote would be defeated. Bayrou, meanwhile, maintained that the audit of perks will proceed and that any unjustified advantages will be scrapped.