Macron unveils new right-wing French government
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced his new government nearly three months after a snap general election resulted in a hung parliament.
This long-anticipated lineup, headed by Prime Minister Michel Barnier, represents a significant shift to the right, despite a left-wing coalition securing the majority of parliamentary seats.
Although Macron’s centrist party has formed an alliance with right-wing factions, parliament remains fragmented and will depend on support from other parties to pass legislation.
This development comes as the European Union has warned France about its rising debt, which now significantly exceeds EU limits.
Among those appointed to the new cabinet is Bruno Retailleau, a prominent member of the conservative Republican Party founded by former president Nicolas Sarkozy. He will serve as interior minister, overseeing immigration.
In total, 10 members of the Republicans have received cabinet positions, while Macron has retained several outgoing ministers in key roles.
Close ally Sebastien Lecornu continues as defense minister, and Jean-Noel Barrot, the former Europe minister, has been elevated to foreign minister.
Only one left-wing politician was appointed to the cabinet: independent Didier Migaud, who takes on the role of justice minister.
The finance minister position has been assigned to Antoine Armand, a member of Macron’s Renaissance party, who until now has been relatively unknown in political circles. He faces the challenge of drafting the government’s budget bill before the end of the year to tackle France’s significant deficit.
Prior to the snap election, the European Union’s executive arm warned France that it would be disciplined for contravening the bloc’s financial rules.
France’s public-sector deficit is projected to reach around 5.6% of GDP this year and go over 6% in 2025. The EU has a 3% limit on deficits.
Michel Barnier, a veteran conservative, was named as Macron’s prime minister earlier this month.
Barnier had been the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, and it was he who tackled the task of forming a new government capable of surviving the fractured National Assembly.
Members of the left-wing alliance, the New Popular Front (NFP) have threatened a no-confidence motion in the new government.
In the July election, the NFP won the most parliamentary seats of any political bloc, but not enough for an overall majority.
Far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon called for the new government to “be got rid of” as soon as possible.
On Saturday, before the cabinet announcement, thousands of left-wing supporters demonstrated in Paris against the incoming government, arguing that the left’s performance in the election was not taken into consideration.
The alliance between centrist and conservative parties in the cabinet is not enough to pass legislation on its own.
It will depend on others, such as Marine Le Pen’s far right National Rally to stay in power and get bills into law.
