The mayor of Caussade, a town in southwestern France, ended a 24-day hunger strike on March 20, 2026. Jean-Michel Baylet, 77, began the protest on February 24 to call for an immediate ceasefire and peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
Baylet, a former senator and government minister, stated his action was a personal sacrifice to draw attention to the human cost of the conflict. He consumed only water, tea, and broth during the protest, which took a significant toll on his health.
His hunger strike concluded after he received assurances from French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné that France was actively working on diplomatic initiatives for peace. Baylet emphasized that his goal was to amplify the voices of citizens demanding an end to the war, not to criticize government policy.
The mayor's protest garnered mixed reactions locally and nationally, highlighting the ongoing public debate in France over the appropriate level of support for Ukraine. Medical professionals attended to Baylet as he ended his fast and began a gradual recovery.
