The new French Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, highlighted this Friday that he wants to control migratory flows in the country and warned of the “extremely serious” budget deficit situation.
In his first interview after taking office on Thursday, conservative Barnier also revealed that he wants to open a debate on “improving” last year’s controversial pension reform, but always “within the budgetary framework”.
The new head of the French government assured the TF1 channel that he intends to include members of his political family, Les Républicains, but also of ‘Macronism’ and “people on the left” in his future executive.
“Sectarianism is a form of weakness,” he stressed.
The survival of Barnier’s government will depend on the far right led by Marine Le Pen, who has for now given him the benefit of the doubt.
The prime minister has indicated he will meet with Le Pen, as well as other parliamentary group leaders, but has sought to distance himself from her.
Although he made it clear that he does not have “much in common” with Le Pen, he acknowledged his respect for the eleven million citizens who voted for his party in the recent legislative elections, ensuring that “their voice counts”.
After 60 days of deadlock, following the legislative elections in July, which gave rise to a very fragmented National Assembly, the oldest prime minister of the Fifth Republic – the political system in force in France since 1958 -, aged 73, succeeded Gabriel Attal, aged 35, the youngest.
Barnier assured that he did not need the position due to his age, but stressed that he accepted the invitation from President Emmanuel Macron due to the difficult political situation the country is experiencing.
Faced with this situation, Barnier wants to use his “negotiating skills”, arguing that his political experience as a minister on three occasions, European commissioner on two other occasions and European Union (EU) negotiator for Brexit, demonstrates this ability.
As for the priorities of his program, which he will have to present to both chambers of Parliament, he assured that “there are no red lines”.
Asked specifically about immigration, an issue on which he requested a moratorium in his party’s primary program for the 2022 presidential elections, Barnier said that there is “the feeling that borders are drains and that immigration flows are not controlled”.
In view of this, he wants to opt for “vigorous migration control” through “concrete measures”.
He also mentioned other priorities, such as increasing wages or improving public services.
Control of public finances will be a key point, with the public deficit threatening to rise to 5.6% of GDP this year despite the numerous control measures that the previous executive applied after 5.5% in 2023.
“The situation is extremely serious,” Barnier admitted openly, as France is already subject to a European Commission procedure for excessive deficit, opened this year.
Asked whether he foresees a tax increase, which would affect the richest, since the middle class already faces strong fiscal pressure, Barnier assured that he does not rule out “greater fiscal justice”.
Coming from a different party to Macron, Barnier made a vow of independence, saying “the president will preside and the government will govern.”
Source: rr.sapo.pt
