Michel Barnier presented his general policy speech on Tuesday, thus setting a course for his government.
The three majority blocs in the Assembly reacted strongly to several announcements, from immigration control to tax issues, including the very controversial pension reform.
Follow the latest political news of the day.
Follow the full coverage
Michel Barnier (finally) has a government
The three “blocs” of the Assembly put pressure on Michel Barnier on Tuesday, the left calling for his departure, the central bloc warning about the tax issue, and the far right putting forward red lines, particularly on immigration.
“You have decided to rule by force”launched the president of the LFI group Mathilde Panot to the Prime Minister from the podium, shortly after her troops brandished voter cards in the hemicycle, symbolizing the circumvention of the elections that, according to them, the arrival in Matignon represents. by Michel Barnier.
The anger of the left
“If power has left the Élysée, it is not at Matignon now. It is here at the Palais Bourbon”launched the leader of the socialist deputies Boris Vallaud. He also promised to oppose “any violation of fundamental rights”to the “abolition of State medical aid “ for foreigners in an irregular situation or “to the implementation of the pension reform”.
On the communist side, André Chassaigne has tackled a program which is a “potion based on injustice, insecurity, instability”. “We will never make our democracy against a democracy. To order, order, order, we will always answer you justice, justice, justice”.
Minute by minute
The red lines of the far right
Aware and delighted of their role as arbiter of a possible motion of censure, the RN deputies underlined through the voice of their president Marine Le Pen three “red lines”. Two had been publicly put forward by his troops: the establishment of a proportional dose in the legislative elections, – with “majority premium” Marine Le Pen pleaded on Tuesday, and the compensation of tax increases by a gain in purchasing power for the most modest French people. The third is the demand for a new immigration law, “first quarter 2025”incorporating at a minimum the provisions of the last law, very marked on the right, censored by the Constitutional Council as legislative cavaliers. “More than ever, we intend to be a force for construction”assured Marine Le Pen, to better call on the head of government to “show courage”.
The ex-majority defends its programming laws
The head of the Republican Right group Laurent Wauquiez quietly attacked the previous majority, calling for “manage public money as if it were ours, which has not been done. Put an end to waste, which has not been done”. He announced that his group would make proposals during a press conference on Wednesday. In unison, the three presidents of the ex-majority groups called for not touching the budgets provided for by the programming laws of the Ministry of the Interior, the Armed Forces and Justice, passed in recent years in Parliament .
To restore public accounts “the right method” East “less spending and certainly not more taxes”insisted Gabriel Attal, boss of the group Ensemble pour la République (ex-Renaissance). He also asked to resume the reform of unemployment insurance that he had initiated, while Michel Barnier preferred to give back control to the unions and employers to negotiate.
