Nearly a week after his appointment, the new French Prime Minister François Bayrou said he would like to present “in the weekend» the new government, «in any case, before Christmas“, or Tuesday evening, with the adoption of a budget “in mid-February”.
A few hours earlier, he had invited the political forces, with the exception of the left-wing party La France insoumise and the far-right group, the National Rally, to propose that they join his government, saying he was ready to “to resume» pension reform, but without suspending it as the left demands.
François Bayrou also hoped that the resigning Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau would be a member of the future government, because he “had found decisions and directions that responded to part of what public opinion demands».
According to the Prime Minister’s services and several participants in the talks with political parties, he tried to convince the thirty officials seated around him with two flagship proposals: one “public offer of participation» to the government, addressed to all the parties present around the table, and “resume without suspending» the pension reform adopted in 2023, which the left and the far-right RN party want to repeal.
However, there is no guarantee that the Prime Minister’s proposals will move the lines, as the reception of this summit meeting was cool among certain guests, even if all honored their participation.
Desires for censorship
François Bayrou succeeded Michel Barnier, overthrown after only three months in office by a historic censorship voted by deputies from the left and the far right. Appointed on Friday December 13, he has since received political leaders and parliamentarians in official or more informal meetings.
Without a majority in the Assembly, the centrist, who has for decades advocated a government bringing together various sensitivities, is currently facing the strong demands of the Republicans (LR) on the right and growing attempts at censorship on the left.
Par Le360 (with AFP)
12/20/2024 at 7:37 a.m.
