N. Peter Kramer’s Weekly Column
New French Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government maintains the course of President Emmanuel Macron while making concessions to the far-right Rassemblement National.
Almost all top ministerial posts have remained in the hands of Macron’s Ensemble pour la Republique (EPR) , even though this party came third in the polls, behind the left-wing union, existing from extreme-left to moderate social-democrats and Greens included, and the far-right Rassemblement National (RN), the party of Marine Le Pen.
Macron’s allies threatened to pull out if Barnier would give too much influence to his own party, les Republicains (LR), only fifth in the elections. LR got only one top ministry but an important one.
Bruno Retailleau, an LR senator with very hard views on immigration, becomes the new minister for home affairs in charge of police and immigration. His appointment can be seen as an assuage of far-right concerns and a try to secure their tacit support.
Survival of Michel-Barnier’s new government depends now on the far-right RN’s decision to abstain from the expected no-confidence vote on 1 October. If the left-wing union as a whole votes against the government, the RN will hold the kingmaker position in the parliament. Marine Le Pen, who offered Barnier a chance to govern, made it clear her support came with conditions.
Anyhow, it remains to be seen whether Michel Barnier’s new government will survive the no confidence vote.
