According to the press release from the House of Lords, France's new Prime Minister - Michel Barnier, former Foreign Minister and former head of the European Union's Brexit negotiation delegation - will head the cabinet. He will replace former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who submitted his resignation at the end of September after the ruling coalition's heavy defeat in the parliamentary election.
The new government consists of about 20 members, including many new faces from both the center-right and center-left. Economic Minister Bruno Le Maire and Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu continue to be retained to ensure stability in financial and defense policies. However, Home Secretary Gerald Darmanin was not on the list, a move that was seen as an attempt to reduc internal tensions following criticism of security and immigration.
Mr. Barnier's selection is seen as President Macron's efforts to build a "reconciliatory government" that can be negotiated with opposition parties, including the leftist bloc and the far-right National Assembly (RN) of Marine Le Pen in the context of France's French parliament having no one to hold an absolute majority.
In a brief speech in Paris, Prime Minister Barnier affirmed that the new administration will "focus on restoring trust and strengthening national unity", and pledged to "listen to the voice of the people after the turbulent election".
Analysts say the new government is an effort by Mr. Macron to save his political position as his term is entering the final stages, while the pressure from social movements, economic crises and prolonged protests has not cooled down.
More than 60% of the French believe the new government will find it difficult to make significant changes. Some economists have also warned that the division in the National Assembly could make it difficult to pass the 2026 budget.
Opposition parties immediately reacted to the announcement of the Elysee Department. Extreme leftist leader Jean- Luc Melenchon called the new cabinet a restored version of the old government, while Le Pens RN party has vowed to fight to the end against any tax increase.
