After two and a half months of stalemate, a very long gestation and a very high dose of controversy, France finally has a new government. The prime minister Michel Barnier presented his executive, announcing the list of 39 members that will compose it, including 17 ministers "with portfolio". Seven out of 17 ministers come from Ensemble, President Emmanuel Macron's centrist coalition, and three from the ranks of the Republicans. There will also be: 2 independents from the right, 2 centrists from the MoDem, 1 independent from the left, 1 Horizons (the small centrist party of former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe), and 1 from the Liot parliamentary group.
France, here is the new Barnier government
Among the most significant appointments of this new more right-leaning government compared to the previous Attal government, there is the "hawk" of the Republicans, champion of the fight against immigration, Bruno Retailleau, to the Ministry of the Interior; that of Jean-Noel Barrot (Ensemble) as Foreign Minister and Antoine Armand (MP from Macron's party), as Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry in place of Bruno La Maire.
The Defense Department has been confirmed Sebastien Lecornu, while Culture remains Rachida Dati. Didier Migaud goes to Justice. Among the other women in the Barnier government, Anna Genetet to National Education, Genevieve Darrieussecq to Health, Annie Genevard to Agriculture and Food Sovereignty and Agnes Pannier-Runacher to Ecological Transition. The government spokesperson will be Maud Bregeon.
“A team, straight to work,” wrote Michel Barnier on X a few minutes after the list of ministers for his new government was announced at the Elysée.
The controversy
There was not what was presented as “opening on the left”, also because the various names of the left that Barnier had tried to involve have all refused. On the contrary, even before the presentation of the list, the left has organized several street demonstrations and anticipated the presentation of a motion of no confidence as soon as it opens in Parliament which could become insidious if the initiative were also joined The Pen who yesterday spoke of a "transitional government", the result of a "reshuffle" that "does not reflect the French desire for change and alternation".
His comment was very harsh Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Insoumise: “It is the government of the losers of the legislative elections,” he said. “We must get rid of them as soon as possible.”
