Macron appoints new government, signs alliance with right

French President Emmanuel Macron (Renaissance, centrist) appointed a new government on Saturday (September 21, 2024), marking a shift to the right in the country’s political landscape. The decision was taken to avoid a possible no-confidence motion in parliament, where his government is in a minority.

The political crisis and falling popularity prompted Macron to choose Michel Barnier (Republicans, right) as prime minister earlier this month. Within two weeks, Barnier, a former Brexit negotiator, had formed a coalition with centrist and right-wing parties. Macron saw the strategy as vital to securing a more stable majority in the currently divided National Assembly. The information is from Agence France-Presse (Agence France-Presse).

The New Popular Front (left) announced that it would submit a motion of no confidence to challenge Barnier’s government.

The snap legislative elections, called by Macron in June, produced a fragmented parliament, with the three main political blocs – the left, the right and the centre-right – falling short of a majority. The National Front emerged as the party with the most votes, with 193 deputies, but Macron chose not to name Lucie Castets, a favourite of the party, as prime minister, in order to do so. “stability”.

The new government, made up of 39 members, most of whom are from Macron’s centre-right coalition and the Republicans, faces opposition from the left and some members of Macron’s own coalition, especially the appointment of conservative figures such as Bruno Retaillo as interior minister and Laurence Garnier as consumer minister.

The survival of Barnier’s government may depend on the support of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party, which has indicated that its decision on the oversight proposal will be based on the policies proposed by Barnier. The first major challenge facing Macron’s coalition is to deliver the 2025 budget at a time when France is struggling to meet deficit and debt limits imposed by European standards.