France: Republicans ready to join Barnier government for “extreme right-wing policy”

The LR deputies and senators, who began their parliamentary results on Wednesday respectively in Aix-les-Bains and Annecy, each formally gave the green light to the participation of members of their political family in the government of Michel Barnier, party sources told AFP.

“We are ready to participate in a government, but being aware of the promises for a real right-wing policy on the subjects we consider fundamental,” said the head of the deputies Laurent Wauquiez in front of the elected officials, according to her partner.

In Annecy, the senators supported the choice to join the executive of Michel Barnier, another source said. The Prime Minister will go to Annecy on Thursday where LR representatives and senators will meet in the afternoon, said Matignon.

In his speech to his group of 47 deputies, Laurent Wauquiez raised a particular concern about “the reappointment of ministers who were going out that would not bring the image of change”.

Hailing the appointment of Michel Barnier as “excellent news”, saying he was “clear about the complexity of his job (without) a large base in Parliament”, a leader asked representatives of the LR “would not be hostile to the politics of the Parliament yesterday.

He explained why his political family finally chose to enter the government, and after the early legislative elections he refused any coalition with the Macronist camp.

“It makes sense to want to be on the right side of Michel Barnier’s majority,” he said, with the conviction that “the country is going badly and therefore there is a need for rapid progress.”

He also said he was concerned about the possibility of introducing “proportionality that threatens the stability of our institutions”, and that he was waiting for details from Michel Barnier on “the direction on in- migration, the budget path, the risk of tax increases and the value of work.

The RN, whose tacit agreement allowed the appointment of Michel Barnier to Matignon, has made the establishment of proportional representation one of its main demands so that they do not censor the government in the future.