Michel Barnier forms new center-right govt amid left-wing criticism

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier announced the formation of a new government on Saturday evening, consisting of 39 members from center and right-wing parties.

Among the 17 ministers, seven come from President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance, and three are from Barnier's conservative party, The Republicans (Les Republicains).

Jean-Noel Barrot was nominated to replace Stephane Sejourne as minister for Europe and foreign affairs. The 41-year-old Barrot, an economist, previously served as minister delegate for Europe in the former government.

Bruno Retailleau was appointed minister of the interior, a role that the French daily Le Figaro regarded as a "symbol of firmness" to restore public order in France. Retailleau, a member of Barnier's party, promised on his social media platform X to "restore order to ensure harmony" and reaffirmed his support for the police.

The position of minister of economy and finance was given to Antoine Armand, who is only 33 years old. He will assist Barnier in submitting France's 2025 budget draft bill to the National Assembly while working to keep the country's debt under control as mandated by the European Union.

However, the list of members of the new government lacks candidates from left-wing and far-right parties, both of which were relative winners in the snap legislative elections.

Barnier's government immediately faced criticism from left-wing parties. The leader of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, denounced Barnier's decision to form a center-right government, stating that it "gives the finger" to democracy.

Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the far-left party La France Insoumise, which was the main party in the left-wing alliance during the latest legislative elections, said the government was formed with "losers of the legislative elections." He asserted that the government "has neither legitimacy nor a future. It will be necessary to get rid of it as soon as possible" on his X account.

The left-wing parties have vowed to launch a vote of no confidence against the government in the National Assembly, where they do not hold an absolute majority. They will need to rely on support from the far-right National Rally party.

As for National Rally, its former leader, Marine Le Pen, expressed disappointment over the new government. On her X account, she described Barnier's government as "transitional" and called for a "major change," asserting that the government announced on Saturday evening was more of a reshuffled former government than a newly formed one.

Macron nominated Barnier, a former Brexit negotiator, as the new prime minister on September 5. Barnier has stated that he intends to address "the challenges, the anger, the suffering, and the sense of abandonment and injustice" that the country is currently experiencing.

After forming a government, Barnier's urgent mission is now to complete the draft budget for 2025 before October 1 and submit it for voting in the National Assembly.