New French Government

The Prime Minister plans to appoint 16 full ministers, including seven from “Ensemble pour la République,” three from the Republicans, two from MoDem, one from Horizons, one from UDI, as well as one from the right-wing independents and one from the left-wing independents.

The composition of the new government is becoming clearer. Michel Barnier plans to form a team of 38 ministers, including 16 full ministers, according to information received by France Télévisions after a meeting held on Thursday, September 19. Specifically, the Prime Minister aims to form a government with 16 full ministers, including seven from “Ensemble pour la République,” three from the Republicans, two from MoDem, one from Horizons, one from UDI, one from the right-wing independents, and one from the left-wing independents. Michel Barnier was received at the Élysée Palace around 7:45 p.m. to discuss this composition.

France Télévisions has also confirmed some names among the proposals that Michel Barnier intends to present to Emmanuel Macron, such as Sébastien Lecornu for Defense, Catherine Vautrin for Territorial Affairs, Rachida Dati for Culture, Bruno Retailleau for the Interior, Senator François-Noël Buffet for Overseas Territories, Annie Genevard for Agriculture, and Patrick Hetzel for Higher Education. Ministers from MoDem, including Jean-Noël Barrot for Foreign Affairs and Geneviève Darrieussecq for Health.

Laurent Wauquiez Declines to Join the Government

Laurent Wauquiez informed the Republican deputies that he would not join the government after declining the Finance Ministry, confirmed a participant in the meeting with France Télévisions. The leader of the Republican deputies had been expected for several days to take over either the Interior Ministry or the Ministry of Economy and Finance, but he ultimately rejected Michel Barnier’s offer.

If President Emmanuel Macron approves the government composition, Michel Barnier is expected to deliver his policy statement on October 1, according to the entourage of Gabriel Attal, president of the “Ensemble pour la République” parliamentary group. This statement will be built around three main blocks: one on “the concerns of the French,” another on “sovereignty and security,” and the third on “debt and the budget.”

According to the same source, Michel Barnier has clarified his stance on immigration, adopting an approach combining “rigor and humanity.” He also emphasized the importance of controlling public spending and promised that there would be “no tax increases for the middle class and working French citizens.” The budget will be constructed based on “the ceiling letters sent this summer,” the source added.