60 days after the second round of early legislative elections, the name of the new Prime Minister has finally been announced. Michel Barnier will take Gabriel Attal’s place at Matignon. The Republican is responsible for forming a “rallying government”, as the Elysée Palace indicated in its press release. “The President has ensured that the Prime Minister and the future government will meet the conditions to be as stable as possible (to) give themselves the chance to unite as widely as possible”, the executive specifies. The stakes are high given the fragmented nature of the National Assembly. After two months of a resigning government, Michel Barnier will have to try to avoid falling under the threat of censure.
The 73-year-old Savoyard knows the workings of government well, having already been a minister four times with several portfolios: Environment, European Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and Food. The arrival of the new Prime Minister – the oldest that the Fifth Republic has known – is eagerly awaited. The burning issues of the previous government were put under wraps as soon as the National Assembly was dissolved. Between the debate on the draft finance bill, the pension reform and unemployment insurance, Michel Barnier’s return promises to be eventful.
First challenge for the man who has been European Commissioner twice during his career: the general policy statement. (…)
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