Newly appointed French Prime Minister Michel Barnier (R) delivers a speech alongside outgoing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (L) throughout the handover ceremony on the Matignon Resort in Paris, on September 5, 2024. | Picture credit score: AFP
France’s new right-wing Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Friday (6 September 2024) started consulting all events to type a authorities able to mustering a majority in Parliament after two months of political impasse.
The 73-year-old former international minister, who most just lately served because the European Union’s Brexit negotiator, is the oldest prime minister in fashionable French historical past.
Barnier, who changed Gabriel Attal, a 35-year-old centrist half his age and the nation’s first brazenly homosexual prime minister, pledged to method his new function with “humility.”
He mentioned schooling, safety and “immigration management” had been his priorities and mentioned he wouldn’t be afraid to inform the reality in regards to the nation’s “monetary debt” but in addition promised “change.”
President Emmanuel Macron appointed Barnier after weeks of deadlock as France organised the Olympics and a part of the Paralympics after his centrist alliance misplaced its relative majority in parliament in a snap election.
Macron took the chance of dissolving parliament in June and calling elections after the far-right defeated his alliance in European elections.
The election noticed a left-wing alliance emerge as France’s largest political pressure, however with out sufficient seats for an total majority.
Against this, Marine Le Pen’s far-right anti-immigration Nationwide Rally (RN) occasion turned the biggest occasion within the decrease home of the European Union’s second-largest economic system, with essentially the most votes in any confidence movement, adopted by Macron’s centrist group.
Le Pen, who leads RN lawmakers in parliament, has mentioned her occasion won’t be a part of the brand new cupboard however will anticipate Barnier’s first coverage speech in entrance of parliament to determine whether or not to again him.
Critics say Macron has turned Le Pen right into a de facto kingmaker, regardless of lengthy presenting herself as a bulwark in opposition to the far proper.
‘Betrayed’
The left particularly has been reeling from Barnier’s nomination and can doubtless attempt to oust him within the decrease home.
“I’m very indignant, like tens of millions of French voters who I believe really feel betrayed,” Lucie Castets, the 37-year-old economist who the left needed to be prime minister, instructed RTL. “The president is placing himself in cahoots with the Nationwide Rally,” she mentioned, promising to desk a movement of no confidence in Barnier.
The world The day by day Libération described Barnier as a “prime minister underneath the surveillance of the RN.” The left-wing day by day Libération positioned a photograph of Barnier on its entrance web page with the phrase “permitted by Marine Le Pen” as a stamp.
Barnier was resulting from meet Attal, who stays chief of the president’s centrist Collectively for the Republic (EPR) group in parliament, on Friday earlier than talking to leaders of his personal Republicans (LR) occasion to debate the composition of a brand new cupboard, his aides mentioned.
The attendees mentioned conferences would then be held with left-wing politicians, the far-left occasion France Immoveable (LFI) and the RN.
“He needs strong, competent and efficient ministers,” mentioned certainly one of his aides, “and he could have the liberty to decide on them.”
Printed – September 6, 2024 10:23 pm IST
