For his first media appearance, the new Prime Minister announced “a debate on improving pension reform.” He also stressed his government’s “independence” from Emmanuel Macron and his desire to remain at Matignon until 2027.
The day after his appointment to Matignon, Michel Barnier remained cautious for his first media appearance on the TF1 news on September 6. He first assured that “at his age, he had no career plan” while hoping to remain Prime Minister until the end of the five-year term. He recalled his long political career: youngest MP in France, president of the Savoie departmental council, organizer of the Albertville Olympic Games, Minister of the Environment, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, etc.
He also highlighted his experience as European Commissioner, which taught him the culture of compromise to regulate finance in the midst of a crisis or negotiate Brexit. In his eyes, it was undoubtedly this “ability to negotiate and bring people together” that led Emmanuel Macron to think he could be the man for the job. But there was no question of him being a Prime Minister without autonomy from the Head of State. “We need a new method,” he believes, in which “the President will preside and the government will govern.” Before adding: “The government is responsible, it has independence.”
“No exchange with Marine Le Pen”
The man who defines himself as a “social and humanist Gaullist” and “has a certain idea of France” shows his willingness to work collectively with all political forces. He is ready to keep outgoing ministers and to open his government to “people on the left”. “I have not had any exchanges with Marine Le Pen. I have nothing in common or not much with the theses or ideologies of the National Rally,” he specified, “but I respect the 11 million voters who voted for the RN.”
On the substance, the very recent tenant of Matignon has opened up a wide range of priorities: low wages, health, housing, public services, ecology, etc. In institutional matters, he does not rule out the idea of introducing proportional voting in legislative elections. […]
- challenges.fr
