Michel Barnier’s first eight days at Matignon
Thursday, September 5, at midday
Michel Barnier, 73, former European Commissioner and member of the Republicans, is appointed prime ministerafter a government vacancy of more than fifty days.
Friday September 6th
THE consultations begin: Gabriel Attal, Jean Castex, Gérard Larcher, Laurent Wauquiez and Bruno Retailleau are received. Then at the end of the afternoon, the youngest Prime Minister of the Ve Republic, Gabriel Attal, and the oldest, Michel Barnier, proceed to the transfer of powers. The second promises “changes and ruptures”.
Saturday September 7th
First trip, at Necker Hospital (Paris, 15e arrondissement). “Listening” caregivers, he makes health one of the “priorities” of his government. He also reacts to the comments of Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally (RN), who places him “under surveillance” of the far-right party. “I am under the surveillance of all French people”he retorts. He continues to consult at Matignon: his predecessor, Elisabeth Borne, and the president of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet.
The demonstrations called by La France Insoumise to denounce his nomination brought together 110,000 protesters in the country, according to the authorities, 300,000, according to the initiators of the movement.
Sunday September 8th
Logically, the new Prime Minister does the front page of the Sunday weeklies. In an interview with Sunday newspaperMichel Barnier hears “raise the horizon, individually for each person, collectively for France”. In The Sunday Tribunethe head of government promises a “culture of dynamic compromise, where everyone keeps their identity”.
At Matignon, he continues his discussions. He meets Horizons representativesincluding former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe. 200 kilometres away, Marine Le Pen, in her stronghold of Hénin-Beaumont (Pas-de-Calais), denies information according to which Emmanuel Macron called her on Thursday to ensure one last time that there was no automatic censorship by the RN against Michel Barnier.
Monday September 9th
At Matignon, representatives of the group of deputies for Liberties, Independents, Overseas and Territories (LIOT) exchange with Michel Barnier, returning from lunch with Emmanuel Macron. “We did not come to participate or give names to a government”said Stéphane Lenormand, president of the group, at the end of the meeting.
Mr Barnier denies considering creating a ministry specifically dedicated to immigrationwhile Franceinfo wrote during the day that a “current thinking” was led by the head of government.
Tuesday September 10
Marc Fesneau, Stephane Sejourne et Herve Marseille are received at Matignon in the morning. Michel Barnier is also preparing the draft state budget that he is supposed to complete in the coming days, by having lunch with the resigning Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, and his Minister Delegate for Public Accounts, Thomas Cazenave, who has also resigned.
At the end of the day, he meets for the first time the deputies Together for the Republic. “I need you and the President of the Republic needs you”he addressed them. But “This is a new government, not a reshuffle”he said.
Wednesday September 11
Michel Barnier sets the government appointment to “next week”, explaining to do “things methodically, seriously”since his arrival at Matignon. He also visits parliamentarians fromHorizonsthe party of Edouard Philippe, in Reims, and those of MoDem.
Thursday September 12
Michel Barnier promises a government “balanced, representative, plural” in which “Everyone will have their place”on his Savoyard lands where he meets, a few hours later, the Republican parliamentarians. He declares that there is no “no reserved areas” to the President of the Republic, but “shared domains”.
Laurent Wauquiez, leader of the LR deputies, calls for the application of a “right-wing politics”with “more security” et “less immigration” to the Prime Minister, promising him the “very clear support” of all the parliamentarians of his party.
Friday September 13th
Michel Barnier’s tour of political groups is officially over. A period of canvassing of ministerial candidates could open during the weekend.
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