After two months of political standstill, it is the 73-year-old who has been given the difficult task. He is a former foreign minister who in recent years has been most profiled as the EU’s top negotiator when Britain withdrew from the union.
Conservative Barnier is France’s oldest prime minister in modern times and takes over from 35-year-old Gabriel Attal, a centrist politician who was the country’s first openly gay prime minister. Barnier has promised to take on his new duties with humility and responsiveness.
He has announced that education, security and immigration will be his most important issues.
Living at Le Pen’s mercy
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President Emmanuel Macron pointed to him as a man for the task after his own centrist alliance was significantly weakened in the election for a new national assembly at the turn of July-August.
The left-wing ideal alliance New People’s Front (NFP) became the assembly’s largest grouping, but did not get enough votes to have a majority on its own.
The largest single party instead became the far-right party Nasjonal Samling (RN), which thus has the most votes in a possible no-confidence vote, followed by Macron’s centrist grouping.
RN leader Marine Le Pen has said that the party will not be part of a new government, but that they will look at Barnier’s plans before deciding whether to support him.
Critical left
Critics say Macron has made Le Pen’s party an even bigger force in politics, even as he has painted a picture of his own movement as a bulwark against the far right.
Macron ruled out naming a prime ministerial candidate from the left, saying a government based there would not survive a no-confidence motion, and the NFP expressed outrage when Barnier was named on Thursday.
– I am furious, like millions of French voters who I think feel let down, Lucie Castets told RTL on Thursday. She is the government-employed economist the left would like to have as prime minister.
– The president cohabits with the National Assembly, she added, and announced a motion of no confidence against Barnier.
More meetings
Le Monde newspaper describes Barnier as a prime minister at the mercy of the RN, while the left-wing newspaper Liberation has a picture of him on its front page stamped “approved by Marine Le Pen”.
On Friday, Barnier’s plan was to meet Attal, who continues to lead Macron’s group EPR in the National Assembly, before talks with his own party the Republicans (LR), his advisers told AFP.
Next, meetings with the left, the far-left party The Indomitable France (LFI) and then the RN are on the agenda, according to the advisers.
– He wants solid, competent and efficient ministers, says one of his advisers. Furthermore, it is said that he will be free to choose those he wants.
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2024-09-08 07:44:05
What challenges does Michel Barnier face as France’s new Prime Minister amidst rising far-right influence?
Macron Appoints Michel Barnier as France’s New Prime Minister Amidst Political Uncertainty
After two months of political standstill, French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Michel Barnier as the country’s new prime minister, tasking him with navigating the country’s complex political landscape. Barnier, a 73-year-old conservative and former foreign minister, takes over from 35-year-old Gabriel Attal, a centrist politician who was the country’s first openly gay prime minister [[1]].
Barnier, who has been most profiled as the EU’s top negotiator during Britain’s withdrawal from the union, has promised to take on his new duties with humility and responsiveness. He has announced that education, security, and immigration will be his most important issues, signaling a shift in the country’s priorities under his leadership.
A Prime Minister at the Mercy of the Far-Right
Barnier’s appointment comes after Macron’s centrist alliance was significantly weakened in the election for a new national assembly at the turn of July-August. The left-wing ideal alliance New People’s Front (NFP) became the assembly’s largest grouping, but did not get enough votes to have a majority on its own. The largest single party instead became the far-right party National Rally (RN), which thus has the most votes in a possible no-confidence vote, followed by Macron’s centrist grouping [[2]].
RN leader Marine Le Pen has said that the party will not be part of a new government, but that they will look at Barnier’s plans before deciding whether to support him. This has raised concerns that Barnier’s government will be heavily reliant on the RN’s support, which could have significant implications for the country’s political direction.
Critical Reaction from the Left
Critics say Macron has made Le Pen’s party an even bigger force in politics, even as he has painted a picture of his own movement as a bulwark against the far right. Macron ruled out naming a prime ministerial candidate from the left, saying a government based there would not survive a no-confidence motion, which has sparked outrage from left-wing politicians and activists.
Lucie Castets, a government-employed economist who was favored by the left as a potential prime minister, expressed her fury at Macron’s decision, saying that she felt let down along with millions of French voters. She has announced a motion of no confidence against Barnier, which could pose a significant challenge to his government [[3]].
A Tough Road Ahead
The appointment of Barnier as prime minister has been met with skepticism from many quarters, with Le Monde newspaper describing him as a prime minister at the mercy of the RN. Liberation, a left-wing newspaper, has been critical of Macron’s decision, suggesting that it could embolden the far right even further.
As Barnier begins his new role, he faces significant challenges in navigating the complex web of alliances and opposition in the French political landscape. With the RN holding significant sway over his government’s fate, Barnier will need to tread carefully to ensure the survival of his administration. One thing is certain, however: the appointment of Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister marks a significant new chapter in the country’s political history.
Michel Barnier: France’s New Prime Minister Amidst Rising Far-Right Influence
After two months of political standstill, France has finally found its new prime minister in the 73-year-old Michel Barnier. The former foreign minister, who was most recently profiled as the EU’s top negotiator during Britain’s withdrawal from the union, has been given the difficult task of navigating the country’s complex political landscape. As France’s oldest prime minister in modern times, Barnier takes over from 35-year-old Gabriel Attal, a centrist politician who was the country’s first openly gay prime minister.
Barnier has promised to take on his new duties with humility and responsiveness, focusing on three key issues: education, security, and immigration. However, his appointment has been met with protests from the French left, who are critical of President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to appoint a conservative prime minister [[3]].
The left-wing ideal alliance New People’s Front (NFP) became the largest grouping in the National Assembly, but did not secure enough votes to have a majority on its own. Instead, the far-right party Nasjonal Samling (RN) emerged as the largest single party, with the most votes in a possible no-confidence vote [[1]]. RN leader Marine Le Pen has stated that her party will not be part of a new government, but will consider supporting Barnier’s plans.
Living at Le Pen’s Mercy
Critics argue that Macron’s decision to appoint Barnier has made Le Pen’s party an even bigger force in politics, despite his own movement being portrayed as a bulwark against the far right. The left-wing newspaper Liberation has gone so far as to feature a picture of Barnier on its front page, stamped “approved by Marine Le Pen” [[3]].
Le Monde newspaper has described Barnier as a prime minister at the mercy of the RN, highlighting the significant influence the far-right party now holds in French politics [[3]]. This has led to concerns about the impact of far-right ideology on French policy and governance.
Critical Left
The left-wing alliance NFP, which was expected to play a significant role in the new government, has expressed outrage at Barnier’s appointment. Lucie Castets, a government-employed economist who was favored by the left as a prime ministerial candidate, has announced a motion of no confidence against Barnier [[3]].
Macron has ruled out naming a prime ministerial candidate from the left, citing the risk of a no-confidence motion. This decision has been met with criticism from the left, who argue that Macron’s centrist alliance has played into the hands of the far right.
More Meetings
Barnier is set to meet with various groups, including the left-wing newspaper Liberation, the far-left party The Indomitable France (LFI), and the RN, in an effort to build support for his government [[1]]. His advisers have stated that he wants solid, competent, and efficient ministers, and will be free to choose his own team.
The appointment of Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister has significant implications for the country’s political landscape. As he navigates the complexities of French politics, it remains to be seen how he will balance the competing interests of the far right, the left, and the centrist alliances. One thing is certain, however – France is in for a period of significant change and upheaval under Barnier’s leadership.
Sources:
[[1]] French left protests over new PM Michel Barnier
[[2]] French president names Michel Barnier as new prime minister
[[3]] Con la nomina di Michel Barnier, la Francia avrà finalmente un governo