France Unveils More Right-Wing Government Following Deadlock – Reuters

By Michel Rose and Mathieu Rosemain

PARIS – France has introduced a new government that seeks to establish a delicate balance between right-wing and centrist factions, as Prime Minister Michel Barnier aims to navigate a political impasse following snap elections that resulted in a hung parliament.

After two and a half months of political uncertainty triggered by centrist President Emmanuel Macron’s unexpected decision to call for early elections, Barnier has assembled a cabinet intended to garner cross-party support within the fragmented parliament.

His team, lacking prominent political figures, includes Bruno Retailleau, a leader of the conservative party formerly led by President Nicolas Sarkozy, who secured the interior ministry in exchange for parliamentary backing.

In a sign of the government’s vulnerabilities, the significant finance ministry has been appointed to the relatively unknown 33-year-old Antoine Armand from Macron’s party, after senior politicians declined the role. The public finances responsibilities, shared with newly appointed budget minister Laurent Saint-Martin, will face the challenging task of crafting a budget bill before January, as France grapples with a rising budget deficit.

"We need to reduce public spending and enhance its efficiency," Armand stated in a recent interview. "If increasing taxes was the answer, France would have already become the world’s leading superpower."

Despite the inclusion of ten politicians from Barnier’s conservative Republicans (LR) party in the cabinet, Macron retained several incumbent ministers in crucial positions. Only one left-wing representative, Didier Migaud, was appointed as justice minister.

Jean-Noel Barrot has been elevated from Europe minister to foreign minister, while Sebastien Lecornu continues as defense minister.

Macron appointed Barnier, a seasoned 73-year-old politician and former EU Brexit negotiator, earlier this month. However, the protracted negotiations to form a cabinet highlighted the significant challenges that lie ahead.

The coalition of centrist and conservative parties will rely on outside support, particularly from Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN), to maintain governance and advance legislation in a highly divided parliament.

Analysts have noted that the centrist government effectively operates as a minority administration, requiring not only internal agreement but also votes from opposition parties to pass legislation. This dynamic necessitates additional concessions and strategic maneuvering.

The RN has provided implicit support for Barnier’s leadership but has reserved the right to withdraw if its concerns about immigration, security, and other issues are not addressed.

"I’m frustrated to see a government that seems poised to recycle all the electoral failures," remarked Mathilde Panot, head of the hard-left LFI group, in a television interview.