France set to announce new government after months of political deadlock

RFI

21 September 2024 at 5:05 am·2-min read

France is expected to finalise a new government by Sunday, with President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Michel Barnier negotiating a cabinet reshuffle that marks a shift to the right. After months of political stalemate following snap legislative elections, key positions such as foreign, economy, and interior ministers are set to be filled, while left-wing protests are already planned in response to the government's direction.

France's new premier said he hoped to finalise a long-awaited government "before Sunday", as President Emmanuel Macron weighed a line-up that marks a shift to the right, with left-wingers due to protest on Saturday.

The full line-up, which includes fresh faces in almost all key posts, is due after "final fine-tuning", Prime Minister Michel Barnier's office said, after two-and-a-half months of deadlock created by inconclusive legislative elections.

While there appeared to be no major surprises or big-name entrants into the cabinet, there are set to be new foreign, economy and interior ministers, with only the defence minister remaining unchanged among the key offices of state.

Barnier is proposing Europe Minister Jean-Noel Barrot as foreign minister, a source close to Macron's political faction told AFP, asking not to be named.

The move would be a major promotion for the 41-year-old, whose slick media appearances have impressed observers, but boosting France's presence on the international stage could pose a challenge.

Landing the interior ministry, which oversees the police and domestic security, would be seen as a major success for the right.

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