The new Prime Minister Michel Barnier declared on TF1 on Friday evening that the executive was entering a “new era” and assured that “the president (would) preside and the government govern”.
“Yesterday, I spoke of a new page and therefore new methods. A responsible government, which has independence. The government will govern and I will do so in good understanding with the President of the Republic naturally,” he declared on TF1.
After seven years of hyper-presidency, punctuated by his party’s defeat in the legislative elections in July, Emmanuel Macron has promised to stand back more and no longer supervise government policy.
Michel Barnier, without an absolute majority, will be under permanent threat of a motion of censure from the National Rally, far from the periods of cohabitation under the Fifth Republic.
“I experienced difficult cohabitations when I was one of the ministers but we are not in that situation,” conceded the Prime Minister, the Elysée for its part outlining a “demanding coexistence.”
The first act of this form of independence, Michel Barnier decided, and “it is his decision” insists his entourage, to appoint as chief of staff Jérôme Fournel, current chief of staff of Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy who has resigned.
Mr Fournel is expected to focus on “two priorities”: the draft budget for 2025, which must be presented to the National Assembly on 1 October, and negotiations with Brussels, while France is placed in an excessive deficit procedure.
He will be assisted by two deputies, one in charge of the economy and “supply-side policy” and the other in charge of social affairs and public services.
The interministerial delegate prefect for the Olympic Games, Michel Cadot, who was once mentioned for the management of the cabinet, will also join the cabinet where he will be responsible for sovereign issues.
On TF1, Michel Barnier boasted of his “ability to negotiate” and assured that he “respected” the voters of the National Rally even if he has “nothing in common” with the far-right party. He said he was willing to open his government to the left.
Speaking about his relationship with the president, Michel Barnier admitted to having been in “opposition” but also to having voted “voluntarily and without problem for him in the second round” in 2017 and 2022 against Marine Le Pen.
“We opposed each other, we did not always have the same ideas. He is the President of the Republic and I have respect for the office and for the man,” he said.
Concerning the life of the parties, Michel Barnier did not rule out introducing proportional representation which would allow voting for lists and no longer by single-member constituency ballot with two rounds.
“There is no red line (…) If partial proportional representation is a solution, I do not rule it out but I will need to discuss with all the political groups,” he said.
This voting method is demanded by several parties, including the RN. It would make it easier to form coalitions, according to some officials.
vl-are/cbn
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