Demonstrations expected this Saturday against the future government
Environmentalists and rebels are expected to join demonstrations organized this Saturday in several cities in France by associations, student, environmental and feminist organizations against the Macron-Barnier tandem. In Paris, between 20,000 and 40,000 people are expected, including 100 to 200 radical elements, according to a police source.
“It is a question of dignity for an entire people, after an election denied and stolen by the President of the Republic,” notes the leader of the rebellious deputies, Mathilde Panot. And to denounce “the Macron-Le Pen political orientations of the Barnier government.”
A twist in National Education?
In Education, the largest ministry, the Macronist elected representative from the North Violette Spillebout was reportedly sidelined. The Renaissance MP for French People Abroad, Anne Genetet, better known for her expertise on defense issues, was reportedly approached for this position, designated by the Head of State in 2023 as a “reserved area.”
Names move every hour
“Names have been moving around in all directions” in recent days, a ministerial source summarized to AFP. Macronist MP Antoine Armand, once tipped to head to Bercy, no longer seemed to appear in the new version presented Friday evening, according to concordant sources. And Renaissance senator Xavier Iacovelli is now given to the Family, according to these sources.
Will LR senator Laurence Garnier, who was once given this position but whose opposition to same-sex marriage provoked an outcry within Macron’s party, inherit another portfolio? Appointing Laurence Garnier is crossing “a red line” for Pierre-Yves Bournazel. The former Horizons MP, on the other hand, seems ready to accept Bruno Retailleau’s entry into the government. “It’s not my political line, but it’s a coalition, and a coalition is a compromise,” he said on BFMTV.
The MoDem, after several meetings on Friday around François Bayrou, has still “not decided” whether or not to participate in the government, the group argued to AFP. “There are still unknowns, we don’t have 100% of the answers to our questions,” it added, while nevertheless acknowledging “a desire to support Barnier.”
Hollande fears voters may feel ‘cheated’
The former head of state, for his part, said on Friday that voters of the Republican Front could feel “cheated” by the composition, which is probably clearly to the right, of the Barnier government.
“What is difficult to understand and to admit is that while two thirds (of voters) have rather adopted the Republican front line (…) here, there is a Prime Minister who was appointed because he had the assent of the extreme right,” commented the former socialist president and new deputy.
Macron called on Friday on “all political groups” to “help” Michel Barnier form a government.
Emmanuel Macron called on Friday on “all political groups” to “help” Michel Barnier form a government, while the list proposed on Thursday was causing tension in the presidential camp. “Everyone must help him succeed because it is in the collective interest,” he added.
The government’s architecture was presented at the Elysée and is already known
The new government should be composed of 38 ministers. With, among the full ministers, seven Macronists, three Republicans, two MoDem, one Horizons, one UDI and one miscellaneous left.
Hello everyone and welcome to this new live!
Could it finally be the big day? More than two months after the second round of the legislative elections and more than fifteen days after the appointment of Michel Barnier as Prime Minister, it could well be that this Saturday the composition of a government will be officially announced. The government will be presented “before Sunday”, Matignon announced. And before Sunday, it is definitely this Saturday. Unless there is yet another twist…
