Like others before him, Michel Barnier traces his path, ignoring the criticisms of some and the dire predictions of others about his future at the top of the State. Right in his boots, or almost, the 73-year-old Prime Minister, guest, Thursday October 3, on the France 2 political show, “L’Evénement”, assumes the role of« anti-Jupiter », keen to open a new page in French politics, seven years after Emmanuel Macron came to power.
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“The president presides, the government governs (…) in the end, it is the interest of the country that counts”he slips, in a formula reminiscent of “He is him, and I am me”of Prime Minister Laurent Fabius speaking, in 1984, about his relationship with the President of the Republic François Mitterrand.
In forty-five minutes of the interview, not once will Emmanuel Macron’s name be mentioned. And as if doubt could have crept in, Michel Barnier specifies: “He is a President of the Republic, so I respect him. » Certainly, the moment he is experiencing with the head of state is not a « cohabitation »he said, not hesitating to give his « opinion » on international affairs, “reserved domain” of the President of the Republic, judging “ Israel in self-defense, so to speak.” He also admits that there is “a very special atmosphere” with this National Assembly “where the deputies shout”.
Head of a government without a majority
“We’re getting ch…”he had heard the day before from the ranks of La France insoumise, when he announced his general policy declaration at the Palais-Bourbon. To this hubbub and this vulgarity, the Prime Minister had opposed politeness and stoicism. “I told Mr.me Skin [présidente du groupe des députés “insoumis”]. I don’t understand why you are aggressive like that, why you shout, you make personal attacks against the head of state. There’s no need for that. I hear you, I listen to you”he repeated on Thursday, calling the French to witness.
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Head of a government without a majority, the tenant of Matignon has in his team members of his political family, Les Républicains (LR), and representatives of the presidential camp, from Renaissance, MoDem or Horizons. A minority base, he concedes, but “less minority” that the base of the left and the extreme right, he defends himself. “This base gives me legitimacy”, he insists.
Within this team which, according to government spokesperson Maud Bregeon, does not reflect the “single thought », Opinions diverge and resentments arise. A few hours earlier, the former Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin, who hoped to have a place within the new government, grumbled against the tax increases announced during the general policy declaration. “For the moment, the budget as announced seems unacceptable to me”warns the elected official from Tourcoing (North), on Franceinfo.
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