French Prime Minister Michel Barnier, center background, French President Emmanuel Macron, left foreground, and Macron’s wife Brigitte Macron, right foreground, applaud during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games on September 8 in Paris.
Michel Euler/AP
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Michel Euler/AP
PARIS — France’s presidential palace unveiled a much-anticipated new government Saturday, dominated by conservatives and centrists. The appointment comes more than two months after elections that produced a hung parliament and deepened political divisions as France grapples with growing financial and diplomatic challenges.
A left-wing coalition won the most seats in the June-July parliamentary elections but failed to secure a majority. Student groups and activists from the far-left La France Insoumise party staged nationwide protests on Saturday against a government they say is rejecting the will of voters.
President Emmanuel Macron this month appointed conservative Michel Barnier as prime minister, even though Barnier’s Republicans party fared poorly in the election. Barnier formed the government after difficult negotiations. Macron gave his approval and the announcement was made at the presidential palace.
Marine Le Pen’s far-right anti-immigration National Rally (RN) party has no seats in Barnier’s government but has enough votes in parliament to bring him down. The party won an indirect victory by appointing staunch conservative Bruno Retailleau as interior minister, whose remit includes key domestic issues such as national security, immigration and policing.
The composition and direction of the French government are important because the country is a leading voice in EU politics, one of the world’s largest economies and a nuclear-armed, veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council.
The 39-member cabinet mainly includes ministers from Macron’s centrist alliance and the conservative Republicans.
Jean-Noël Barrot is the new Minister of Foreign Affairs. He is a centrist politician known for his work on digital transformation and European affairs. He brings extensive experience in managing complex international issues, particularly within the EU.
The new finance minister is Antoine Armand, an emerging figure in French politics now tasked with steering France’s fiscal policies and managing the upcoming 2025 budget, amid pressure from Brussels to tackle France’s growing debt.
Sébastien Lecornu will remain as Minister of Defense. He has played a key role in strengthening France’s military capabilities, including modernizing defense systems and managing military aid to Ukraine. His leadership on defense will be crucial as France navigates its role in NATO and the growing geopolitical tensions related to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Barnier’s ability to govern effectively is already under scrutiny, with his left-wing political opponents vowing to challenge him at every turn and the far right saying it will keep a close eye on the government.
The left-wing New Popular Front alliance surprised many by winning the most seats in the risky early elections called by Macron following a far-right victory in the European Parliament elections.
But the New Popular Front was unable to form a minority government and refused to make concessions and join a more left-wing government alliance.
Barnier, 73, is a veteran politician best known for his role as the European Union’s Brexit negotiator. He is no stranger to complex political tasks. But forming a government that can survive in such a divided parliament will test his vast experience and political acumen.
Barnier’s first major political test will come on October 1, when he delivers his policy speech to the National Assembly.
