French President Emmanuel Macron today appointed center-right Michel Barnier as prime minister, the Elysee announced, 60 days after early parliamentary elections elected a National Assembly without a majority.
But who is Michel Barnier and what are the challenges he will be asked to face?
The 73-year-old Mr. Barnier led the EU talks. with Britain for its exit from the bloc during the period 2016-2021. Before that, the conservative politician held roles in various French governments and was also a commissioner in Brussels.
“Mr Brexit”, as the 73-year-old has been described, is an ardent pro-European and a moderate politician.
He had, however, significantly toughened his rhetoric during his failed 2021 bid to win his conservative party’s presidential nomination, saying immigration was out of control – something the RN agreed with.
The positions he has taken
The 73-year-old Barnier, who is not well known in France, has taken on many roles in the past. In 1973, at the age of 22, he became France’s youngest councilor general, In addition, he became the youngest member of parliament as well as the youngest president of the prefectural council of Savoy.
He was minister four times (Environment, 1993, European Affairs, 1995, Foreign Affairs, 2004 and Agriculture, 2007), twice European Commissioner, and finally Brexit negotiator.
However, according to “Le Monde”, Barnier’s first major achievement, which he still refers to thirty years later, was the organization of the Winter Olympics in Albertville, Savoy in 1992.
Barnier is respected on the European stage, where he has been “present” for a period of fifteen years, until the Brexit deal is concluded in 2020.
“Old” or fossil?
The old wolf of French politics entered politics in 1973, so much so that a far-right MP called him “a fossil of political life”.
For decades in the corridors of power, whether in Paris or Brussels, he forged a reputation for listening, arguing and seeking to persuade.
“tortured personality”
“Behind a gentle aura hides a tortured personality. He is anxious and needs advice. He draws his strength from a team of negotiators in whom he has full confidence,” explains one of his partners.
Michel Barnier took part in several right-wing governments in France in the 1990s and 2000s, holding various portfolios (European Affairs, Environment, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, etc.). He was European Commissioner twice, regional policy (1999-2004), then responsible for the internal market and services (2009-2014).
The big budget challenge
As Politico reports, Barnier will be faced with the challenge of pushing through reforms, as well as passing the 2025 budget, at a time when his country is under pressure from the Commission and the bond markets to reduce its deficit.
Macron’s bid to call early parliamentary elections in June failed, with his centrist coalition losing dozens of seats and no party winning an outright majority.
The left-wing New People’s Front alliance came – unexpectedly – first in the election, but Macron ruled out handing it the chance to form a government after the other parties made it clear they would vote against it.
The announcement that Barnier will cross Matignon’s threshold comes nearly two months after no party won an outright majority in the election, leading to an impasse in the French president’s negotiations over who will lead the government.
The 73-year-old politician is a staunch pro-European and career conservative, but rose to prominence during his party’s failed 2021 presidential campaign by trumpeting that immigration was out of control, something the National Coalition, under the leadership of the star of the French extreme right, Marine Le Pen.
The Melancholy reaction – Call for demonstrations
The announcement provoked a reaction from the head of the far-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who said that the result of the parliamentary elections was stolen from the French people.
“The president has just decided to officially deny the result of the parliamentary elections that he had announced. It is not the New People’s Front, which came first in the elections, that will have the prime minister… So the elections were stolen from the French people. The message was rejected,” Melanchon continued.
The leftist alliance accused Macron of ignoring the result by choosing a conservative. Mathilde Panot, a member of parliament for Insubordinate France, spoke of an “unacceptable democratic coup”.
In a video he posted on social media, Mélenchon called Barnier a “personality closest” to far-right positions and called for “strong mobilisations” the day after tomorrow. Saturday, the day the Left had planned demonstrations against President Macron.
Emmanuel Macron officially denies the result of the legislative elections.
He has just appointed Michel Barnier. A member, among others, of a party that came last in the legislative election.
Emmanuel Macron stole the election from the French people.#PrimeMinister pic.twitter.com/kFdkSPlKIc
— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) September 5, 2024
The leader of Insubordinate France, the far-left wing of the New Popular Front, is calling on people to take to the streets on September 7.
#France #Barniers #choice #means #challenges #face
