The Barnier government (French: gouvernement Barnier) is the forty-fifth and incumbent government of France. It was formed in September 2024 after President Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier as Prime Minister on 5 September, replacing caretaker Gabriel Attal. After the governing coalition lost seats in the snap elections of July, Attal tendered his resignation, but was asked to continue until his successor was chosen.
Barnier government | |
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45th Government of French Fifth Republic | |
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Date formed | 5 September 2024 |
People and organisations | |
President of the Republic | Emmanuel Macron |
Prime Minister | Michel Barnier |
History | |
Election | 2024 French legislative election |
Predecessor | Attal government |
On 5 September, Barnier was invited by Emmanuel Macron to "form a unity government".[1]
Formation
editContext
editAfter the dissolution of the 16th legislature by Macron on 9 June 2024, the early legislative elections took place on 30 June and 7 July. While the National Rally was originally anticipated to obtain a majority or plurality, it came third in seats behind the New Popular Front and Ensemble.
Then-Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, having only served six months in office, presented his resignation to Macron, who accepted it on 16 July. The day before the opening of the Paris Olympic Games, the New Popular Front proposed that Lucie Castets be nominated as prime minister. In reaction, arguing that "no one won [the elections]", Macron announced the holding of consultations to form a government.[2]
On 16 August, at the end of the Olympic Games, Macron invited party leaders and presidents of parliamentary groups from both chambers to the Palais de l'Élysée on 23 August to try to form a government.[3] After the President received the party leaders and the presidents of parliamentary groups, Macron's office announced in a press release on 26 August that Castets would not be appointed prime minister.[4]
On 2 September, Emmanuel Macron received nominations from Bernard Cazeneuve, the former Socialist Party Prime Minister from 2016 to 2017, and Xavier Bertrand, the current Hauts-de-France region president.[5] Faced with the risk of a motion of censure, the candidacy of Michel Barnier was considered on 4 September.[6] On 5 September, almost two months after the second round of legislative elections, Macron appointed him as prime minister. While the NFP has announced it would move a motion of no confidence against any government not led by them, the National Rally announces that it will wait for the general policy statement of the new government before deciding whether to support any motions of no confidence or censure.[7]
Anti-Barnier government protests
editComposition
editMinisters
editPortfolio | Name | Party | |
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Prime Minister | Michel Barnier | LR |
References
edit- ^ "Michel Barnier nommé Premier ministre". Les Echos (in French). Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ "Résultats législatives 2024 : Emmanuel Macron lance les grandes manœuvres (et assure que « personne n'a gagné »)". 20 Minutes (in French). 2024-07-10. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ "Emmanuel Macron convie les chefs de partis le 23 août, pas de Premier ministre dans l'immédiat". La Voix du Nord (in French). 2024-08-16. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ "Nouveau gouvernement : Emmanuel Macron refuse de nommer Lucie Castets et lance de nouvelles consultations". Les Echos (in French). 2024-08-26. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ "Matignon: Macron "test" Cazeneuve and Bertrand, the Beaudet surprise emerges". TV5 Monde (in French). 2024-09-02. Retrieved 2024-09-05..
- ^ "Nouveau Premier ministre: Michel Barnier, nouvelle "piste sérieuse" d'Emmanuel Macron?". BFMTV (in French). 2024-09-04. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ "L'ancien ministre Michel Barnier, figure des Républicains, nommé Premier ministre par Emmanuel Macron". Franceinfo (in French). 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ Clayton, Freddie (7 September 2024). "France's left rage at Macron for shutting them out of power despite election victory". NBC News. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ Khalil, Hafsa (7 September 2024). "France sees thousands protest over new centre-right PM Barnier". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ Goury-Laffont, Victor (7 September 2024). "Thousands protest across France after Macron rejects left's demands". Politico. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ Irish, John (7 September 2024). "Thousands protest in France against Macron's choice of prime minister". Reuters. Retrieved 7 September 2024.