Almost two months after the parliamentary elections, French head of state Emmanuel Macron appointed former EU commissioner Michel Barnier (73) as prime minister. However, it is questionable whether there is a stable majority in parliament behind the conservative politician.
Macron has considered several people for the post in recent weeks, none of whom could be expected to command a parliamentary majority sufficient to guarantee a stable government.
Fight for a government with a majority
It remains to be seen whether Barnier can form a government with a majority. His conservatives had stressed that they did not want to be part of a government. But they must at least tolerate a Barnier government.
The support of the Macron camp will probably be certain for the new prime minister. However, it is difficult to predict how he would be able to gain the necessary votes from the left-wing camp. It is possible that the right-wing extremists will eventually tolerate him – out of support for Barnier’s restrictive positions on migration policy. The right-wing Rassemblement National (RN) movement has indicated that it would support Barnier under certain conditions.
Former EU Brexit negotiator
Barnier, 73, led the EU’s Brexit talks with Britain from 2016 to 2021. Before taking up the role of EU commissioner, the conservative politician served in several French governments.
With the change of government, the liberal Macron will have to give up power. The prime minister of a different kind is becoming increasingly important as a leader of government policy. Macron has the upper hand in foreign policy.
Difficult tasks
The French constitution gives the head of state the freedom to appoint whomever he wishes as prime minister. Macron’s biggest challenge is to find a prime minister who does not have a majority against him and who can therefore be removed by a vote of no confidence. Whatever its composition, the new government will face difficult tasks, especially the preparation of a budget for 2025.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
