Taxes, pension reform, societal laws, immigration, mental health… Michel Barnier was the guest of the 8pm news on France 2, Sunday, September 22, for his first interview since the appointment of the government the day before. Find the main statements of the Prime Minister.
“I am not going to increase taxes on all French people any further. who already pay the most taxes of all European partners, neither on the poorest people, nor on working people, nor on the middle classes“, said Michel Barnierguest on the France 2 television news, Sunday September 22 in the evening.
However, the Prime Minister added: “I will not exclude that the wealthiest people participate in the national effort.“via des “targeted sampling“which would also affect”some large companies“, while France’s public finances are in the red, which will make the budgetary equation for the year 2025 particularly difficult to resolve. Comments which seem to follow on from and explain a sentence he made on September 6, the day after his appointment to Matignon. “The French need tax justice“he had said.
Pension reform, social laws, immigration
Regarding the pension reformthe repeal of which is demanded by the New Popular Front and the National Rally, Michel Barnier affirmed that he wished “take the time to [l’]improve“. “We have a law that provides a financial framework and I think that this financial framework must be preserved.“he said, indicating however that he would “trust the social partners to improve this law“particularly in terms of hardship, long careers and for mothers.
During this first interview after the announcement of the composition of his government the day before, the Prime Minister assured that the “major laws” of “social or societal progress“for example those on voluntary termination of pregnancy or medically assisted procreation, “will be fully preserved“. “I will be a bulwark to ensure that all of these acquired rights are preserved. (…). There is no ambiguity“insisted Michel Barnier.
Vigilant in the face of the profile of certain ministers from the Republicans, who opposed marriage for all during the vote on the law and more recently the constitutionalization of abortion, his predecessor at Matignon, Gabriel Attal had announced in the afternoon that he was calling on the Prime Minister to dispel doubts on these subjects.clearly in its general policy statement“The president of the deputies Ensemble pour la République (ex-Renaissance) has, moreover, once again indicated that his group, the main force on which the head of government will have to rely in the National Assembly, will remain “free in his positions“.
Asked about theimmigration On the set of the France 2 news, Michel Barnier explained that he wanted to “do practical things for control and limit immigration which often becomes unbearable and which leads to not welcoming those we welcome, which is a problem of humanity. There will be practical measures like all our neighbours are taking.“. Regarding State Medical Aid, the Prime Minister did not respond specifically, but he indicated that there was neither “taboo“, is “totem“, there is simply “the concern to deal with this question [de l’immigration] with firmness and humanity“.
Relations with Emmanuel Macron
While his government is mainly composed of members from the presidential party and the rightthe tenant of Matignon called on his team to work in the “greater cohesion“ and the “greater brotherhood“Without an absolute majority in the Palais-Bourbon, the government could fall at any time if the New Popular Front and the National Rally vote for a motion of censure. Addressing both “the far left“that at”the extreme right“, he said he regretted this eventuality. And to affirm that “bigotry or intolerance is a sign of weakness“.
The NFP plans to file a motion of censure from the general policy statement that Michel Barnier should deliver on October 1, while the RN is waiting to know more about the 2025 budget before making a decision.
Finally, the Prime Minister took advantage of this interview on France 2 to to rule out any possibility of “controversy“with Emmanuel Macron who”presides“while he”governs“eager to work with him in a “positive, dynamic spirit of compromise“, even if he considers that there is “no reserved domains“to the President of the Republic, but of the domains”shared“.
Considering the political configuration in the National Assembly and the political forces on which he intends to rely, as well as the participation of many members of the former presidential majority in his government, the tenant of Matignon also believes that the country is not not in a cohabitation situation.
After the first transfers of power on Sunday, the ministers will meet on Monday 23 September in the morning around Michel Barnier at Matignon, before the First Council of Ministers of the new government at 3 p.m. at the Elysée.
