French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday named Michel Barnier, the former European Union Brexit negotiator, as his new prime minister, in a bid to end political paralysis after an inconclusive snap election.
The low-key conservative politician will quickly face a baptism of fire as he runs out of time to prepare France’s 2025 budget, which could trigger a vote of no confidence if the bitterly divided parties in parliament are not satisfied.
The left-wing alliance that won the June election accused Macron of ignoring the result by electing a conservative. It called for demonstrations against Barnier’s election, but does not have enough seats to block the election on its own.
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The far-right National Rally (RN), the largest party in parliament, has indicated it will not block Barnier for now but could do so later if a series of demands are not met.
At 73, Barnier is the oldest prime minister in modern French political history, taking over from Gabriel Attal, who was the youngest.
“The election was stolen,” said far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon. Another hard-left MP, Mathilde Panot, called it an “unacceptable democratic coup.”
RN leader Jordan Bardella said the party recognised Macron’s election and would judge Barnier’s “general policy speech, his budget decisions and his actions on their own merit.”
“We will advocate that the major urgent needs of the French people – the cost of living, security and immigration – are finally addressed, and we reserve all political means of action if this is not the case in the coming weeks.”
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Barnier is a staunch pro-European and moderate career politician, but he hardened his rhetoric considerably during his failed 2021 bid for his conservative party’s presidential nomination, saying immigration was out of control, something the RN agrees with.
Macron’s gamble to call early parliamentary elections in June backfired, with his centrist coalition losing dozens of seats and no party winning an outright majority.
The left-wing alliance New Popular Front finished first, but Macron ruled out asking them to form a government after other parties said they would reject it immediately. Instead, he waited weeks to make his choice.
Even if political paralysis continues, despite the appointment of a new government, Macron cannot call new early elections until July.
Reuters
EJIA
