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France has unveiled its new government, led by Prime Minister Michel Barnier. The country had been plunged into chaos after a snap election – called by President Emmanuel Macron – saw a surge in far-right support, that then led to the then Prime Minister Gabriel Attal stepping down. The decision to call a snap election – just ahead of the Paris Olympics – led to widespread backlash and political upheaval across France.
Despite a new cabinet, stability and calm are not guaranteed. Most of the newly appointed cabinet members come from Emmanuel Macron’s centre-right camp and the conservative Les Républicains despite the left-wing alliance NFP having won the most seats in the parliamentary elections.
Thousands of people protested in cities across France in response to the cabinet.
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- Bias Metre
- Liberal
- High Factuality
- Owner - Groupe Rossel
Momentum to the right in Europe
“If you zoom out of France and look at the whole of Europe, you see that by appointing Michel Barnier as prime minister the once moderate Emmanuel Macron has brought his country into line with many of its neighbours. On the same weekend, the AfD only narrowly lost to the SPD in the Brandenburg elections. … In Belgium, a poll published on Saturday showed a Flanders that is further to the right in its voting preferences than ever before – Vlaams Belang is on form. … Above all, these events mark the end of a week in which the new EU Commission has been dominated by the right.”
- Bias Metre
- Liberal
- High Factuality
- Ownership - Mediahuis
New government is unstable, future depends on Le Pen
“Barnier and Macron want to accommodate French voters on the right and prevent them from voting for far-right parties in even greater numbers in future elections. But paradoxically, the support of Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rassemblement National must also be secured. The RN is the second-most important opposition party in parliament after the left-wing camp, and will play a crucial role in determining how long the new government remains in office. This shows, in turn, how powerful Le Pen’s party has become in France – even if it is still being kept out of the centre of power.”
- Bias Metre
- Left Wing
- High Factuality
- Ownership - LVMH
Cabinet will reassure the business world
“Barnier’s cabinet is likely to reassure the business world. … First in terms of method: the prime minister is consulting experts widely and has undertaken to continue doing so in preparation for his government policy statement. This marks the beginning of a culture of compromise that is quite foreign to France. And secondly in the choice of personnel: there are few or no big names in this team, but the ministers are experts in their fields and will be careful not to break with the dynamic created over the past seven years. … With the cast, the method and the direction now set, the 2025 budget will be the acid test.”
