French President Macron has appointed a new government in an effort to resolve over two months of political uncertainty following a hung parliament. Conservative Prime Minister Barnier has formed a 38-member Cabinet, with the main task of addressing France’s serious financial situation through a 2025 budget plan. The new finance minister, Antoine Armand, will be responsible for submitting the budget plan to parliament, while Jean-Noel Barrot will serve as the foreign minister and Sebastien Lecornu will remain as the defense minister.
However, Barnier’s government is already facing scrutiny from political opponents, with protests from the far-left and warnings from the far-right National Rally. Although the left-wing New Popular Front won the most parliamentary seats in the July election, Macron argued that they would not be able to form a stable government. Instead, Barnier’s government is expected to rely on support from conservative Republicans and centrists while attempting to maintain a neutral stance with the far right.
Despite the announcement of the new government, protests have erupted in Paris and Marseille, with critics arguing that the government does not reflect the election results. In response, Macron has emphasized the need for stability and effectiveness in governance, highlighting the challenges his government faces in uniting various political factions to address the pressing issues facing France.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com