Conservative Michel Barnier declares that they are ready to act in the service of citizens
Afp
The newspaper La Jornada
Friday, September 20, 2024, p. 23
Paris. French Prime Minister Michel Barnier yesterday proposed the list of his ministers to President Emmanuel Macron, who entrusted him with a unity government to try to achieve a stable majority in parliament.
Barnier, who previously met with his future centre-right allies, introduced Macron A government ready to act in the service of the Frenchhis office announced.
In France, where the president shares executive power with the government, it is up to the president to appoint, on the proposal of the Prime Ministerto the cabinet members.
According to Barnier’s office, the official appointment will take place before sundayafter incompatibilities were verified.
Despite the fact that the left-wing coalition New Popular Front (NFP) won the early legislative elections in June without a majority, Macron appointed Barnier as prime minister on September 5, believing that he had a better chance of overcoming a vote of no confidence.
Following the NFP’s refusal to support him, Barnier sought to form a government with Macron’s centre-right alliance and his conservative party, Les Républiques (LR).
The survival of the new government will depend on the far right not supporting a possible motion of censure.
Gabriel Attal, former Macronist Prime Minister, informed his deputies that the government equal Barnier would have 16 senior ministers, 10 of them from the president’s alliance, three from LR and one from the left (but not from the NFP), according to a summary of the meeting.
Among the names proposed by Barnier, the current defence minister, the centre-right Sébastien Lecornu, would remain in office, and the centrist Jean-Noël Barrot would be promoted from secretary of state for Europe to chancellor, according to several sources.
Interior Ministry, for Senate leader
LR, the former ruling party currently in decline, is expected to win the coveted interior ministry for its Senate leader, Bruno Retailleau, a hard-liner on immigration, according to party sources.
The negotiations have been marked by tension in the final stretch, among other reasons due to the distribution of posts between the parties, especially when Macron’s alliance has 166 of the 577 deputies and LR only 47.
Macronists would also oppose a tax increase to alleviate, Barnier said, the very serious fiscal situation France, whose public deficit and debt exceed the limits set by European Union rules.
In a statement, the head of government indicated that his objectives are, among others, ensure security, control immigration, Control public finances and reduce ecological debtas well as improve the lives of the French.
Barnier indicated during the meeting that there is no question of a Tax increases for the middle classes and working French peopleAttal clarified to his deputies.
Time is running out. The government has already delayed presenting its 2025 budget to Parliament, a key moment to confirm whether it has the necessary support among parliamentarians to be able to govern.