French Prime Minister François Bayrou delivered a powerful, no-nonsense speech to French entrepreneurs at the Roland-Garros stadium during the REF 2025. A plea for national cohesion and economic recovery, which the Seneweb editorial team followed live. Departing from the traditional approach, he urged economic players to "look toward the light," the only possible attitude in the face of the prevailing "deploration."

A world of titans and an erased Europe

François Bayrou began with an uncompromising analysis of the international situation, which he described as a return to the law of the strongest. He pointed the finger at the world powers, Russia, China, and the United States, which, each in their own way, are imposing their will. Castigating the humiliation suffered by Europe, he echoed Mario Draghi's words to assert that "the dream and illusion of a Europe that matters in the world" have evaporated. Faced with this observation, he posed the existential question: "To be or not to be." A clear call for France and Europe to stop being "vehement" and to fight to exist, rather than being satisfied with defeats "that could have been worse."

The paradox of a prodigious but declining France

Bayrou then painted a contrasting picture of France's strengths. He praised its "unparalleled assets and strengths," recalling that the nation is a leading scientific and technological power, present in sectors such as aerospace, aviation, and defense. This capacity for innovation is a major asset in the new industrial era, dominated by robotics and artificial intelligence, where labor costs are no longer the determining variable.

However, this "shining medal" has its "flip side," visible in the foreign trade figures, where France "is devalued in what should be the most accessible." For Bayrou, industrial reconquest is possible, but it requires a "national strategy" and cooperation between the State, large companies, and innovators.

The urgency of national cohesion

Perhaps the most striking part of his speech was the call for national cohesion in the face of a society threatened by "violence, failure," and "war between one party and another." François Bayrou emphasized that France's internal divisions weaken it in global competition. He used the powerful metaphor of a boat on the high seas: "We are all in the same boat." The question is no longer who will govern, but whether the boat will be able to weather the storm. With this in mind, social democracy must assert itself as a pillar of unity, with each actor—businesses, unions, and government—having a collective responsibility toward the nation.

Debt, a legacy of slavery for youth

His speech ended with a solemn warning about the state of public finances. He denounced the "peril" of public debt, accumulated "with a light heart" by previous generations. He spoke of the "€3,350 billion of debt" that threatens the country with asphyxiation and whose burden, which could exceed €100 billion in 2029, is hampering growth.

He condemned the "casualness" of those who refuse to face the gravity of the situation, accusing past generations of enslaving young people. Quoting George Orwell, he warned: "Freedom is slavery." A shocking phrase to sum up the situation and affirm the government's willingness to make "significant but bearable efforts" to put the country back on its feet.