France's new PM tackles first challenge of forming cabinet

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

00:06Now 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

00:25to give a general policy speech to parliament and then ask parliament for a vote of confidence

00:31based on that plan.

00:32But Barnier is under no obligation to do that, in which case the opposition could table a

00:38motion of no confidence which would need a 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

00:55to 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

01:07for 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.

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