Engin Eroglu (FREIE WÄHLER, EDP Executive Vice President): Referendum in France sends strong signal for direct democracy and European stability
Brussels/Paris, May 6, 2025 – Engin Eroglu, deputy federal chairman of the FREIE WÄHLER party and Member of the European Parliament, welcomes the announcement by French Prime Minister François Bayrou that the population will be allowed to vote in a referendum on an austerity program and structural reforms.
“At a time of massive economic challenges, it is a strong signal when a government chooses the path of direct democracy. It is not just about figures – it is about people’s trust. Only with broad support from the population can far-reaching reforms succeed in the long term,” Eroglu explained. The MEP also emphasized the importance of French financial policy for Europe’s stability: “As the second-largest economy in the eurozone, France plays a central role. A sustainable budget policy in Paris is also crucial for the future of the euro and for confidence in the European Union’s ability to take economic action as a whole.”
Eroglu pointed out that democratic participation and financial responsibility are not mutually exclusive: “If France shows that reforms can be implemented with the citizens and not against them, this would send an important signal to the whole of Europe.”
