France: New French government already threatened with censorship

The new French government takes its first steps on Monday, already criticized and threatened with censure, two and a half months after early legislative elections that produced no majority and delayed the preparation of the 2025 budget.

Appointed by President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Michel Barnier unveiled the composition of his government this weekend, with 39 members, the vast majority of whom come from the right and Emmanuel Macron’s liberal movement.

They will meet for a “government breakfast” before going to their respective ministries for the traditional handover ceremonies. Then, a first Council of Ministers will be held at 3:00 p.m. around Emmanuel Macron.

Michel Barnier called on his government on television on Sunday evening to work in the “greatest cohesion” and “greatest fraternity”, in the face of initial tensions within his team.

To reassure

The Prime Minister, a former European Commissioner in charge of Brexit, is trying to reassure his allies and opponents alike. The preparation of the 2025 budget, which has already been delayed by an unprecedented amount, is the number one emergency, in a very tense economic context.

Michel Barnier described France’s “budgetary situation” as “very serious.” He promised not to “further increase taxes on all French people,” an increase that Macronists oppose. But “the richest must take part in the solidarity effort,” warned the right-wing prime minister, without directly commenting on a reestablishment of the wealth tax, demanded by the left.

“A large part of our debt is issued on international, external markets, we must maintain France’s credibility,” he added, while the country’s public deficit stands at more than 5% of GDP, beyond the European limit of 3%. He also assured that the major laws of “social or societal progress” such as those on voluntary termination of pregnancy (IVG), marriage for all or medically assisted procreation (AMP or PMA) would be “fully preserved.”

Insufficient guarantees

Michel Barnier also pledged to “take the time to improve” the highly contested pension reform, without providing details. These are insufficient guarantees for the left, which has already promised to censure the new executive.

The left-wing coalition of the New Popular Front has already planned to draft a motion of censure which will be tabled by the socialists after Michel Barnier’s general policy speech, scheduled for October 1, indicated the leader of the Socialist Party Olivier Faure.

The leader of the radical left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, called for “getting rid of this “government of losers” as soon as possible, which he said had “neither legitimacy nor future.”

Unlikely

Officially announced on Saturday evening, the new executive gives pride of place to President Macron’s party, Renaissance, and a good place to the right-wing party Les Républicains (LR), from which Michel Barnier comes.

Two parties, however, came out in sharp decline from the legislative elections of June 30 and July 7, caused by the controversial dissolution of the National Assembly by Emmanuel Macron after the rout of the presidential camp in the European elections.

The fact remains that to succeed, a motion of censure must receive the votes of the National Rally, Marine Le Pen’s far-right party, which for the moment is unlikely, according to Olivier Faure himself.

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