PARIS: French Prime Minister Michel Barnier will outline the policy agenda of his new government on Tuesday as it seeks to consolidate its fragile position just three weeks after taking office. Barnier, a former right-wing EU Brexit negotiator, was appointed by centrist President Emmanuel Macron to bring some stability after the political chaos caused by a deadlocked parliament following snap elections this summer. Barnier has formed a minority government with a distinctly right-wing tinge, but it is constantly in danger of facing a no-confidence vote from the left or the far right. Three-time presidential candidate Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Assembly (RN) has the most MPs of any political party in the new National Assembly, and commentators have noted that the fate of Barnier’s government is in jeopardy. The left, whose lawmakers are united in a coalition, is expected to quickly table a motion of no confidence, but the RN is waiting. The shift to the right in French politics comes as part of a general trend in Europe that also saw Austria’s far-right Freedom Party come out on top in national elections on Sunday. “I’ve been here for 20 days and I don’t know how much longer,” Barnier said Saturday, acknowledging the fragility of his situation given the “unprecedented situation” in the National Assembly. “But I’m here as someone who’s embarking on a long journey … with great determination,” he said. The main theme of the speech will be improving France’s budgetary position, with Barnier saying he wants to raise some taxes by targeting “those who can contribute to this effort” and save “those who are on the ground, who work, who produce”. . . Former Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin strongly warned against the move as a sign of future trouble. “Many of us will not be able to support a government that raises taxes: that would go against everything positive we have done for the French,” he said. Barnier’s stance on immigration will also be closely watched when he rises from 1pm CET following the rape and murder of a 19-year-old Paris student, where a Moroccan was named as the suspected attacker. The new prime minister has previously called for a moratorium on immigration, while his interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, has said there should be a referendum on the issue, admitting it is constitutionally impossible. Retailleau said that over the past 50 years, immigration has greatly affected French society, but the French have not had “the opportunity to express their opinion”. His stances horrified the left but delighted the right, with former president Nicolas Sarkozy applauding his launch. “The moment someone wants to do something, they are immediately accused of being between Hitler and (German occupation-era prime minister Pierre) Laval,” Sarkozy said. Barnier will not seek a vote of confidence after his speech on Tuesday, his staff told AFP.
