What next for Barnier as he takes over as French PM

FRANCE 24 English

Visit our website: http://www.france24.com  Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/France24_en

Transcript

00:00Outgoing French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal hands over to his successor Michel Barnier.

00:07Now the veteran Conservatives' first order of business will be to form a new government.

00:12No easy task given the Centre writes a lack of a majority in a deeply divided parliament

00:17with opposition parties in an unforgiving mood.

00:21Once the new government is signed off by President Macron, the convention is for the new Premier

00:26to give a general policy speech to parliament and then ask parliament for a vote of confidence

00:31based on that plan.

00:33But Barnier is under no obligation to do that.

00:36In which case the opposition could table a motion of no confidence, which would need

00:40a majority, 289 votes, to censor Barnier.

00:45The left-wing NFP does not have enough seats to do that on its own, nor does the far-right

00:50National Rally.

00:51They have said they will not block Barnier for now, but the new Prime Minister will need

00:56to keep them on side, as they've indicated they could do so later if a range of demands

01:01are not met.

01:03If Barnier makes it past that hurdle, the next major challenge will be to draft a plan

01:08for the 2025 budget, which must be handed over to lawmakers by October 1st before it's

01:13voted on.

01:15France is under pressure to get its finances in order, with a budget deficit this year

01:20already running billions of euros over target.

01:23If opposition parties are not satisfied with Barnier's budget, his government would be

01:27under threat once again from a vote of no confidence.

Category

Transcript

Recommended