PARIS, Aug 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou vowed Friday to uncover lawmakers and officials who take undue benefit, warning that the public believes all politicians are "lining their pockets".

Bayrou said the suspicion had been overwhelmingly expressed when he made an appeal for ideas to cut France's massive budget deficit.

The prime minister has already faced major opposition to his cost-cutting ideas which range from cutting two national holidays to a one-year freeze on spending as he seeks savings of 44 billion euros ($51.5 billion) in the 2026 budget.

Bayrou has been releasing a series of videos on social media to back his campaign for spending reform and in the latest released on Friday gave the results of his request for ideas.

Many people believe that the government has to "touch the privileges -- in quotation marks -- of political leaders, parliamentarians, or members of the government," Bayrou said.

"I take this question very seriously because it means there's suspicion. Many French people have come to believe that politicians are lining their pockets ... that it's a waste of public money," he said.

"We need to clarify all this. Are there situations where French parliamentarians or political leaders are receiving undue, excessive, or unacceptable benefits?" he asked.

Far-right National Rally figurehead Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzling European Union money for her party, with other French politicians also marked by similar high profile cases.

As is often the case in French politics, the prime minister has asked for an inquiry into the phenomenon. This one will be led by Rene Dosiere, an 84-year-old former deputy who made his name uncovering spending waste.

Bayrou vowed that if unearned benefits were found "they will be eradicated".