National Rally won’t take part in Barnier government, Le Pen says
The far right National Rally’s Marine Le Pen said her party will not be part of a new Michel Barnier government.
Michel Barnier Premier ministre : il “semble répondre au (…) critère que nous avions réclamé càd un homme qui soit respectueux des différentes forces politiques (…) Nous attendrons le discours de politique générale (…) Le RN ne participera pas à un gvt”, Marine Le Pen pic.twitter.com/Xuq4j6LfN5
— LCI (@LCI) September 5, 2024
Key events
Yaël Braun-Pivet, the national assembly president, has asked for a session as soon as possible for Michel Barnier to speak.
Je demande au Président de la République de convoquer une session extraordinaire dans les meilleurs délais. Le Premier ministre @MichelBarnier doit pouvoir s’exprimer rapidement devant la Représentation nationale et nous permettre de reprendre nos travaux entamés sous la… pic.twitter.com/qZAFOHsgPl
— Yaël Braun-Pivet (@YaelBRAUNPIVET) September 5, 2024
Lisa O’Carroll
As the former Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier is well known in the UK, not least among the Brexiters who were regularly reminded by the French man that there were no prizes for countries who left the European Union, an exclusive club with no borders for people, capital, services or imports or exports for members.
A courteous, but dry man, he led the complicated and legalistic challenge of trying to unravel 44 years of relations with the EU.
With the huge Brussels machine behind him and the backing of EU capitals, it was easy for him to stand firm on Brexit and to ruffle feathers in London without feeling repercussions at home.
Among his most frequent warnings to the UK, which at times resembled a political torture chamber, was that the “clock was ticking” for the UK, something that became his catchphrase
He mocked Theresa May’s Northern Ireland plans, confessed to being a “little bit flabbergasted” over the UK’s shifting positions, and said that Boris Johnson’s team behaved like “buccaneers” in talks.
But ultimately he revealed little of his own politics. The worst that was said about him was that he was “cocky” (The Sun newspaper) or lacked charisma.
It was not until he ran for president in France that his right wing views emerged, clashing with Emmanuel Macron declaring immigration was “out of control” in France, apparently abandoning his previous position on the centre-right.
But ultimately he still saw himself as the safe bet, the negotiator.
“France doesn’t need a third candidate who gets too close to the far-right of politics. It needs someone who pulls us together,” he said during the campaign.
Irish politician Simon Coveney has said he wishes Michel Barnier well.
“He has been asked to do a very difficult job but has the experience and ability to do it well,” he said.
“French leadership is so important to the future of the EU. Ireland now has a great friend as French Prime Minister,” he added.
I wish Michel Barnier well. He has been asked to do a very difficult job but has the experience and ability to do it well. French leadership is so important to the future of the EU.
Ireland now has a great friend as French Prime Minister. 🇫🇷🇮🇪🇪🇺https://t.co/KD9O6oy0P1— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) September 5, 2024
National Rally won’t take part in Barnier government, Le Pen says
The far right National Rally’s Marine Le Pen said her party will not be part of a new Michel Barnier government.
Michel Barnier Premier ministre : il “semble répondre au (…) critère que nous avions réclamé càd un homme qui soit respectueux des différentes forces politiques (…) Nous attendrons le discours de politique générale (…) Le RN ne participera pas à un gvt”, Marine Le Pen pic.twitter.com/Xuq4j6LfN5
— LCI (@LCI) September 5, 2024
European centre-right politicians have expressed their enthusiasm for Michel Barnier.
Yaël Braun-Pivet, a Macron ally and president of the French National Assembly, also congratulated Barnier.
J’adresse mes félicitations à @MichelBarnier pour sa nomination au poste de Premier ministre. Nous devons désormais réunir pour réussir, au service des Français. Les députés y prendront toute leur part et sauront prendre leurs responsabilités. Notre mandat nous oblige.
— Yaël Braun-Pivet (@YaelBRAUNPIVET) September 5, 2024
Manfred Weber, leader of the centre-right European People’s party, has congratulated Michel Barnier.
“A convinced European, a man of dialogue and experience, he clearly fulfils the qualities that France needs,” he said.
Congratulations to my friend @MichelBarnier on his appointment as Prime Minister. A convinced European, a man of dialogue and experience, he clearly fulfils the qualities that France needs.
— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) September 5, 2024
Édouard Philippe, a former prime minister, has congratulated Michel Barnier, writing that there will be many to help him.
Félicitations chaleureuses à @MichelBarnier ! Sa tâche s’annonce rude mais la difficulté ne lui a jamais fait peur. Et nous serons nombreux à l’aider.
— Edouard Philippe (@EPhilippe_LH) September 5, 2024
Gabriel Attal has thanked the French people, as he leaves office.
The French Greens’ Marine Tondelier has also criticised Macron’s decision.
Michel Barnier, 73, is set to be France’s oldest prime minister.
He succeeds Gabriel Attal, the youngest, who is now 35.
The Socialist party’s Olivier Faure expressed concern about today’s decision.
“In all democracies in the world, it is the coalition that comes out on top that is called upon to form a government. Never the party that lost the election. Creating this precedent would be dramatic and dangerous for the institutions themselves,” he wrote.
Dans toutes les démocraties du monde, c’est la coalition arrivée en tête qui est appelée à former un gouvernement. Jamais le parti qui a perdu l’élection. Créer ce précédent serait dramatique et dangereux pour les institutions elles mêmes.
— Olivier Faure (@faureolivier) September 5, 2024
The far right National Rally’s Marine Le Pen has stressed that the new head of government respect those who voted for her party.
Soixante jours après le second tour des élections législatives, Michel Barnier est nommé Premier ministre. Comme nous l’avions annoncé au président de la République, nous exigerons que le nouveau chef du Gouvernement respecte les 11 millions de Français qui ont voté pour le…
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) September 5, 2024
Xavier Bertrand, whose name was floated earlier as a potential prime minister, sent his best wishes to Michel Barnier.
J’adresse à @MichelBarnier et à son gouvernement tous mes vœux de succès au service de la France et dans l’intérêt des Français face aux nombreux défis qui s’annoncent.
— Xavier Bertrand (@xavierbertrand) September 5, 2024
The far right National Rally’s Jordan Bardella said his party takes note of the nomination of Michel Barnier as prime minister.
“We will judge his general policy speech, his budgetary decisions and his actions on the evidence,” he said.
Après une attente interminable, indigne d’une grande démocratie, nous prenons acte de la nomination de Michel Barnier comme Premier ministre d’Emmanuel Macron.
Les 11 millions d’électeurs du Rassemblement National méritent le respect : c’est notre exigence première.
Nous…
— Jordan Bardella (@J_Bardella) September 5, 2024
Mélenchon says election ‘stolen’
France Unbowed’s Jean-Luc Mélenchon has reacted to Emmanuel Macron’s decision to name Michel Barnier as prime minister, arguing that the election has been “stolen” from the French people.
Emmanuel Macron nie officiellement le résultat des élections législatives.
Il vient de nommer Michel Barnier. Un membre, parmi d’autres, d’un parti qui a été le dernier à l’élection législative.
Emmanuel Macron a volé l’élection au peuple Français.
#PremierMinistre pic.twitter.com/nBa7oISaF7
— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) September 5, 2024
Michel Barnier named France’s new prime minister
Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has appointed former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister, after weeks of deadlock.
Le Président de la République a nommé Monsieur Michel BARNIER Premier ministre. Il l’a chargé de constituer un gouvernement de rassemblement au service du pays et des Français. pic.twitter.com/beWhuEh42L
— Élysée (@Elysee) September 5, 2024
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