NewsThe new French government faces criticism from both political extremes

The new French government faces criticism from both political extremes

Michel Barnier
Michel Barnier
Images source: © PAP | SARAH MEYSSONNIER / POOL

21 September 2024 20:33

On Saturday evening in France, the composition of the new government was announced. It was formed two weeks after Michel Barnier was appointed Prime Minister and more than two months after the parliamentary elections. The Minister of the Economy is Antoine Armand, and the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is Jean-Noel Barnot.

Sebastien Lecornu will remain the Minister for the Armed Forces, while Bruno Retailleau will head the Ministry of the Interior.

As previously announced, the ministers come from the centre (President Emmanuel Macron's political camp) and the right-wing Republican Party. The new government's first meeting will take place on Monday.

The radical left and the radical right criticised the new government

- The new French government formed by Michel Barnier "has no future," - stated Jordan Bardella, head of the far-right National Rally (RN). On the left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, head of the far-left Unbowed France (LFI), declared that this government "has no legitimacy".

Marine Le Pen, who remains the informal leader of the RN and the head of its parliamentary faction, wrote on social media that the government is "temporary" and that her party continues to count and will prepare for "major changes".

See also