French PM tells new government to 'respect all citizens'
Barnier had called for "the greatest possible cohesion" within the government, and for a willingness to find "compromise"
Published: 04:09 PM,Sep 23,2024 | EDITED : 08:09 PM,Sep 23,2024
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and French Prime Minister Michel Barnier (R) meet with members of the new government during the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace, in Paris. — AFP
PARIS: French Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Monday urged his cabinet to 'show respect for all our fellow citizens' as his freshly-appointed government went to work, backed by only a minority in parliament.
A long wait for the new French government —11 weeks after a snap election called by President Emmanuel Macron — ended on Saturday when the new team was announced, marking a clear shift to the right.
In the July vote a bloc of leftist parties, the New Popular Front (NPF) came first, but failed to persuade Macron that they could form a government with any staying power.
Instead, the president turned to veteran conservative Barnier to head up the new government which has the support of Macron allies, some conservatives and centrists in the National Assembly, but no majority — which makes it vulnerable to being toppled in a no-confidence motion. Its critics say that the government lacks legitimacy, failing to reflect the election outcome.
Faced with this reproach, Barnier urged his ministers to 'show respect for all our fellow citizens and all political parties and listen to everybody'.
At a breakfast gathering on Monday ahead of the cabinet's first formal meeting, Barnier also asked his team to be 'beyond reproach and modest' as they take up their portfolios, an official from the prime minister's office said. The 39 ministers should 'act first and talk second' to the media or the public, he said. 'No bluster, please.'
Already Sunday evening, Barnier had called for 'the greatest possible cohesion' within the government, and for a willingness to find 'compromise'. The leftist opposition has already said they will bring a no-confidence motion in parliament at an early opportunity, while the far right has also blasted the cabinet lineup. Barnier on Monday countered that his lineup was 'republican, progressive and pro-European'.
Left-wing criticism has homed in on the new interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, a social conservative and defender of law-and-order, who has in the past opposed same-sex marriage and the inclusion of the right to abortion in the French constitution.
As he took over Monday from his predecessor Gerald Darmanin, Retailleau said that he would 're-establish order' in France, having previously criticised what he called 'laxness' in the outgoing administration concerning security, immigration and the protection of French secularism. — AFP
A long wait for the new French government —11 weeks after a snap election called by President Emmanuel Macron — ended on Saturday when the new team was announced, marking a clear shift to the right.
In the July vote a bloc of leftist parties, the New Popular Front (NPF) came first, but failed to persuade Macron that they could form a government with any staying power.
Instead, the president turned to veteran conservative Barnier to head up the new government which has the support of Macron allies, some conservatives and centrists in the National Assembly, but no majority — which makes it vulnerable to being toppled in a no-confidence motion. Its critics say that the government lacks legitimacy, failing to reflect the election outcome.
Faced with this reproach, Barnier urged his ministers to 'show respect for all our fellow citizens and all political parties and listen to everybody'.
At a breakfast gathering on Monday ahead of the cabinet's first formal meeting, Barnier also asked his team to be 'beyond reproach and modest' as they take up their portfolios, an official from the prime minister's office said. The 39 ministers should 'act first and talk second' to the media or the public, he said. 'No bluster, please.'
Already Sunday evening, Barnier had called for 'the greatest possible cohesion' within the government, and for a willingness to find 'compromise'. The leftist opposition has already said they will bring a no-confidence motion in parliament at an early opportunity, while the far right has also blasted the cabinet lineup. Barnier on Monday countered that his lineup was 'republican, progressive and pro-European'.
Left-wing criticism has homed in on the new interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, a social conservative and defender of law-and-order, who has in the past opposed same-sex marriage and the inclusion of the right to abortion in the French constitution.
As he took over Monday from his predecessor Gerald Darmanin, Retailleau said that he would 're-establish order' in France, having previously criticised what he called 'laxness' in the outgoing administration concerning security, immigration and the protection of French secularism. — AFP