In his first televised interview since his appointment as Prime Minister, Michel Barnier announced his willingness to improve the pension reform with the social partners and promised “concrete measures” to control migratory flows while respecting the budgetary framework.
In an interview given on Friday night to the television channel ‘TF1’, Michel Barnier revealed very little about his intentions for the future French governmentcurrently in the training phase.
In this regard, the new tenant of the Elysée made it clear that He was aware that his mission would be dangerous “due to the unprecedented situation” of the National Assemblynow divided into three big blocks. Especially since the left-wing New Popular Front has already promised to present a motion of no confidence against him.
But Michel Barnier insists that his team “will not just be a right-wing government.” He also confirmed that the outgoing ministers could be part of it, while at the same time he was open to the appointment of ministers from other backgrounds: “I have never been sectarian,” he insisted.
As a sign of this outstretched hand, Michel Barnier announced that he wanted reopen the debate on pension reformwhich the left and far right plan to undo. But he made it clear from the beginning that “We are not going to question everything.” In other words, the law will stand. On the other hand, the Savoyard confirmed his intention to open the debate on the “improvement” of the reform. And he indicated that he would with social partnersto whom, in his opinion, we must listen more. And he promised to meet with deputies and senators to discuss the issue.
“The president must preside, the Government must govern”
But Michel Barnier drew a red line in one sentence:“I want to undertake an improvement while respecting the budgetary framework” because it does not want to “increase the debt” of the country or increase its deficit (around 5.6% of GDP when it should be below 3% of GDP according to European standards).
In an attempt to calm the anger of the left, which has not digested his appointment, the prime minister also declared that he was not opposed to a “greater tax justice”implying that he would not oppose tax increases.
Another confirmation: the former Brexit negotiator promised commit to “better controlling migratory flows”, as he had promised to do during his brief career as a candidate for the 2022 presidential elections.
Although he did not repeat the word “moratorium” on immigration, the prime minister, who has already been accused by his adversaries of winking at the extreme right, promised “concrete measures”, while making it clear that “no one has a monopoly on good ideas.” “We are going to address the problem in a rigorous and humanistic way,” said.
Regarding a possible reform of the electoral law introducing a proportional distribution, the President of the Government said that had “no red lines”but that he needed to discuss it previously with “all political groups.”
Finally, asked about his relationship with Emmanuel Macron and this new chapter in the cohabitation between the Elysée and Matignon, Michel Barnier said that he respected the presidential office and the man who embodies it (Emmanuel Macron). But he firmly stated that “The president must preside, the Government must govern”. “I have talked about new methods, and I will do so in close collaboration with the President.”
