In his first speech, the new Prime Minister promised “changes and ruptures”. He wants to focus on access to public services, security and controlling immigration.
Barely appointed to Matignon, Michel Barnier has taken his bearings in relation to the head of state, promising to “act more than talk” in the face of the “numerous and profound difficulties of the country” and to “respect all political forces”, while he will be under permanent threat from the extreme right in the National Assembly. “It will be a question of responding, as much as we can, to the challenges, the anger, the suffering, the feeling of abandonment, of injustice”, declared the former right-wing European commissioner, 73 years old, stressing the “need for unity and appeasement”, during the transfer of power with Gabriel Attal at Matignon.
Responding to his predecessor, he assured that education would remain “the priority”, also citing security, immigration, work and purchasing power, all issues on which he is expected by the National Rally. While he promised to take up “lots of projects pending” since the surprise dissolution of the Assembly by Emmanuel Macron, he also showed his desire to make his mark by bringing his “own added value”.
Veiled criticism of the head of state
“We are going to act more than talk to find solutions that work everywhere,” he assured, in a veiled criticism of his predecessor and the head of state. “We expect a Prime Minister to tell the truth about financial debt and ecological debt,” he pointed out, while he will have to urgently tackle the 2025 budget and reassure European partners worried about the drift of public finances. Sixty days after the second round of the legislative elections, which did not result in a clear majority, Emmanuel Macron’s choice finally fell on his name, after much prevarication, immediately arousing the disapproval of the left, which denounced a “quitus” from the RN, Marine Le Pen’s party having not threatened immediate censure.
Michel Barnier becomes the oldest Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic, succeeding[…]
- challenges.fr
