Michel Barnier Introduced as Prime Minister of France

Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, appointed Michel Barnier, the former EU negotiator in the Brexit process, as Prime Minister. Mr. Macron aims to end the political deadlock following the recent parliamentary elections that did not yield a decisive outcome. The main question now is whether the new cabinet under Prime Minister Barnier can garner the support of the French Parliament, which is currently experiencing deep divisions, to implement the President's desired reforms. Mr. Barnier, a seasoned conservative politician and technocrat, will face his first major challenge in Parliament with the approval of the 2025 budget plan, and if other political parties do not agree, the budget approval process may turn into a vote of confidence for the new government. Michel Barnier, 73, is the oldest Prime Minister in contemporary French history, appointed in place of 35-year-old Gabriel Attal, the youngest Prime Minister of France. Mr. Barnier became a member of the French Parliament at the age of 27 and has held senior positions, including Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He is known internationally as the EU representative in the negotiations for Britain's exit from the EU (Brexit) from 2016 to 2021. Emmanuel Macron had considered several politicians for the Prime Minister position in recent weeks, but apparently none had the necessary support to ensure a stable government, which is the President's top priority. There is no guarantee that Mr. Barnier can secure a parliamentary majority for the implementation of the President's desired reforms or even the necessary support for the stability of his government. However, at least the far-right National Rally party, the largest party in the French Parliament, announced on Thursday that it would not oppose his appointment if Mr. Barnier meets some of the party's conditions. Michel Barnier is a staunch supporter of the European Union and a moderate politician and technocrat. However, he took a hardline stance in 2021 during the election campaign for the Republican Party's nomination for the presidential election, stating that immigration to France was out of control, a position also defended by the National Rally party. Mr. Barnier's political views are generally very close to those of Emmanuel Macron. This is very important for Mr. Macron as he wanted to select a Prime Minister who would not revoke or amend his recent reforms, including raising the retirement age. Mr. Barnier's success and that of his government in defending these reforms and implementing other reforms desired by the President is not guaranteed. He will need to negotiate and garner support from a significant portion of Parliament for any new proposals, as Emmanuel Macron's supporters hold less than one-third of the seats in the legislatures. In the two months since the parliamentary elections, during which Emmanuel Macron was searching for a new Prime Minister, the financial situation of the French government has worsened. The current Minister of Economy, who may soon leave the cabinet, recently warned that addressing the budget deficit and repaying government debts would require a significant reduction in public spending. The call for early parliamentary elections by Emmanuel Macron about three months ago was a big gamble that did not yield the desired outcome for the French President. The leftist party leader's anger over Macron's refusal to appoint a leftist Prime Minister reflects the political tensions in France. Macron's party lost many of its seats, while the leftist coalition known as the New Popular Front gained the most seats, followed by the far-right National Rally party. The leftist coalition, which secured the most seats, considered the appointment of a new Prime Minister their legitimate right, but Macron did not accept their request. The parliamentary weight of the leftist parties is not sufficient to remove Mr. Barnier's government through a vote of no confidence, but they can exert pressure on him by calling for street protests.