The Barnier government (French: gouvernement Barnier) is the forty-fifth and incumbent government of France during the period of the French Fifth Republic. 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 its status as the largest parliamentary bloc in the July snap election, Attal tendered his resignation but was asked to continue until his successor was chosen.
Barnier government | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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 |
| Member parties | |
| Status in legislature | Minority government (coalition) 212 / 577 (37%)
|
| History | |
| Election | 2024 French legislative election |
| Predecessor | Attal government |
On 5 September, Barnier was invited by Emmanuel Macron to "form a unity government".[1]
With only 212 out of 577 seats in the National Assembly, the centre-right coalition began as one of the smallest minority governments in French history, having to rely on support or neutrality from other parties, including the National Rally, in the National Assembly. It taking office also marked the first time under the Fifth Republic a government had a majority in the Senate, but not in the National Assembly.[2]
Formation
editContext
editAfter the dissolution of the 16th legislature by Macron on 9 June 2024, the early legislative election 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.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, having only served six months in office, offered his resignation to Macron, who accepted it on 16 July. The day before the opening of the Paris Olympic Games, the New Popular Front designated Lucie Castets to be its candidate for the premiership. In reaction, arguing that "no one won [the elections]", Macron announced the holding of consultations to form a government.[3]
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.[4] After the President met 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.[5]
On 2 September, Emmanuel Macron met with Bernard Cazeneuve, former Socialist Prime Minister from 2016 to 2017, and Xavier Bertrand, current Hauts-de-France region president, as they were touted as top contenders for the premiership.[6] Faced with the risk of a successful vote of no confidence, the appointment of Michel Barnier was considered on 4 September.[7] On 5 September, almost two months after the second round of legislative elections, Macron appointed him as PM. While the NFP announced it would move a motion of no confidence against any government not led by them, the National Rally announced that it will wait for the general policy statement of the new government before deciding whether to support any motions of no confidence.[8]
Barnier's appointment was met with ire from the NFP and its supporters, who claimed that Macron's appointment of a conservative PM favorable to Macron's centrist policies was unrepresentative of the voting results, and amounted to a "denial of democracy". Left-wing parties called on their members to join the nationwide demonstrations, with the Socialist Party being the only main alliance member of the NFP to not explicitly call on its supporters to participate. Protests were held on 7 September 2024. According to organizers, roughly 300,000 participated, with about 160,000 protesting in Paris.[9] France's Interior Ministry estimated that there were 110,000 nationwide protesters, with 26,000 in Paris.[10]
On 9 October, the Barnier government survived a no-confidence vote brought by the New Popular Front, which fell 92 votes short of the 289 needed. The National Rally supported the government by not voting for the motion.[11]
Composition
editBarnier's ministers were named on 21 September, formed of centrists and conservatives.[12] All ministers are placed in the order of precedence defined by the Order of the Protocol defined by the Elysée when the government was announced.[citation needed]
Ministers
editDeputy Ministers
editSecretary of State
edit| Portfolio | Attached minister | Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Secretary for Citizenship and Anti-Discrimination | Minister of the Interior | Othman Nasrou | LR | |
| Secretary of State for Francophonie and International Partnerships | Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs | Thani Mohamed Soilihi | SE | |
| State Secretary for Consumer Affairs | Minister of Economy, Finances and Industry | Laurence Garnier | LR | |
| Secretary of State for Equality between women and men | Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy, and Equality between women and men | Salima Saa | LR | |
| Secretary of State for Artificial Intelligence and Digital | Minister of Higher Education and Research | Clara Chappaz | SE | |
References
edit- ^ "Michel Barnier nommé Premier ministre". Les Echos (in French). Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Gouvernement Barnier : le Sénat, pilier du gouvernement". La Croix (in French). Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ "Résultats législatives 2024 : Emmanuel Macron lance les grandes manœuvres (et assure que « personne n'a gagné »)". 20 Minutes (in French). 10 July 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Emmanuel Macron convie les chefs de partis le 23 août, pas de Premier ministre dans l'immédiat". La Voix du Nord (in French). 16 August 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Nouveau gouvernement : Emmanuel Macron refuse de nommer Lucie Castets et lance de nouvelles consultations". Les Echos (in French). 26 August 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Matignon: Macron "test" Cazeneuve and Bertrand, the Beaudet surprise emerges". TV5 Monde (in French). 2 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024..
- ^ "Nouveau Premier ministre: Michel Barnier, nouvelle "piste sérieuse" d'Emmanuel Macron?". BFMTV (in French). 4 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "L'ancien ministre Michel Barnier, figure des Républicains, nommé Premier ministre par Emmanuel Macron". Franceinfo (in French). 5 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ Irish, John (7 September 2024). "Thousands protest in France against Macron's choice of prime minister". Reuters. 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.
- ^ "France's minority government survives no-confidence vote as far right refuses to back motion". BFMTV. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ Agence France-Presse (21 September 2024). "Macron names right-leaning French government under Michel Barnier". The Guardian.