Macron shifts to the right as he unveils new French government two months after divisive elections
French President Emmanuel Macron named a new government led by Prime Minister Michel Barnier Saturday, marked by a shift to the right just two months after an inconclusive parliamentary election.
French President Emmanuel Macron named a new government led by Prime Minister Michel Barnier Saturday, marked by a shift to the right just two months after an inconclusive parliamentary election.
The first major task for Barnier, appointed just over two weeks ago, will be to submit a 2025 budget plan addressing Frances financial situation, which the prime minister this week called very serious.
Conservative Barnier is best known internationally for leading the European Unions Brexit negotiations with the UK.
More recently, he has had the difficult job of submitting a cabinet for Macrons approval that has the best chance of surviving a no-confidence motion in parliament.
Tough talks on the distribution of the 39 cabinet posts continued right up to Saturdays official announcement, insiders said, with moments of high tension between the president and his prime minister.
French President Emmanuel Macron (left) named a new government led by Prime Minister Michel Barnier (right) on Saturday. Pictured: Macron poses with Barnier prior to their meeting at the Elysee palace in Paris, on January 31, 2020, a few hours before Britain officially left the European Union
Macron was counting too, on a neutral stance from the far right - but the leader of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella, was quick to condemn the composition of the new government. Pictured: Macron visiting the Ateliers Lorin stained glass workshop, as part of the European Heritage Days in Chartres, on September 20, 2024
Opposition politicians from the left have already announced they will challenge his government with a confidence motion.
In the July election, a left-wing bloc called the New Popular Front won the most parliamentary seats of any political bloc, but not enough for an overall majority.
Macron argued that the left would be unable to muster enough support to form a government that would not immediately be brought down in parliament.
He turned instead to Barnier to lead a government drawing mostly on parliamentary support from Macrons allies, as well as from the conservative Republicans and the centrists groups.
Macron was counting too, on a neutral stance from the far right - but the leader of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella, was quick to condemn the composition of the new government.
It marked a return to Macronism and so had no future whatsoever, he said Saturday.
At the other end of the political spectrum, far-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon called the new lineup a government of the general election losers.
France, he said, should get rid of the government as soon as possible, while his party threatened to increase popular pressure on the government.
Socialist party chairman Oliver Faure dismissed Barniers cabinet as a reactionary government that gives democracy the finger.
Among the new faces in key cabinet posts are Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, a centrist, while conservative Bruno Retailleau takes over at the interior ministry.
His portfolio covers immigration and his right-wing credentials have created unease even in Macrons own camp.
Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, a close Macron ally, has kept his job.
The difficult job of submitting a budget plan to parliament next month falls to 33-year-old Antoine Armand, the new finance minister.
The only left-of-centre politician is a little-known former Socialist Didier Migaud who was named justice minister.
Even before the announcement, thousands of people with left-leaning sympathies took to the streets in Paris, the southern port city of Marseille and elsewhere on Saturday to protest.
A protester throws a projectile near burning bicycles during clashes with police following partial results in the second round of the early French parliamentary elections, at the Place de la Republique in Paris, France, July 7, 2024
Anti-riot police officers pushed back protesters on Paris streets following the first round of voting on June 30
A barricade burned as protesters demonstrated against the French far-right National Rally party on July 1
Thousands of supporters of the Popular Front (Front Populaire, left coalition) marched in streets near Place de la Republique on June 30, 2024 in Paris, France
Masked rioters clash with riot police near Place de la Republique during a protest over the legislative election results, on July 8, 2024 in Paris, France
A vandalised bus stop as rioters clash with riot police at Place de la Republique during a protest over the legislative election results, on July 8, 2024
Members of the National Rally party and leftist organisations protested following the second round of Frances parliamentary election in July
Paris erupted in riots following the release of the final results of the election
They were objecting to a cabinet they say does not reflect the outcome of the parliamentary election.
The new government has nobody from inside the NFP bloc.
I am here because this outcome does not correspond to how people voted, said Violette Bourguignon, 21, demonstrating in Paris.
I am worried and Im angry. What is the point of having an election at all? she said.
Barnier is to address parliament with a key policy speech on October 1.
He then has the urgent task of submitting a budget plan to the National Assembly aimed at controlling Frances rising budget deficit and debt mountain - the first major test of his administration.
France was placed on a formal procedure for violating European Union budgetary rules before Barnier was picked as head of government.
Frances public-sector deficit is projected to reach around 5.6 per cent of GDP this year and go over six percent in 2025, which compares with EU rules calling for a three-percent ceiling on deficits.
I am discovering that the countrys budgetary situation is very serious, Barnier said in a statement to AFP on Wednesday, adding that the situation required more than just pretty statements.
The new cabinets first meeting is scheduled for Monday afternoon.
