Political crisis: new center-right government in France

Almost three weeks after the fall of the government, France has a new center-right government. The Elysée Palace announced the names of the 30 ministers in the evening. Prime Minister François Bayrou is relying on the political forces that were already part of the cabinet of his predecessor Michel Barnier. Barnier’s government only lasted three months in office.

Same parties, different heads, big names

Bayrou is relying on political heavyweights in his cabinet. With Manuel Valls as Minister for the Overseas Territories and Élisabeth Borne as Education Minister, two former prime ministers are part of his government. The long-serving former Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin is also part of the government team and will be the future head of the Ministry of Justice. The economic department will be taken over by Éric Lombard from the state financial institution Caisse des Dépôts. Jean-Noël Barrot remains in office as Foreign Minister and the conservative Bruno Retailleau as Interior Minister. Sébastien Lecornu remains in charge of defense.

It is unclear how stable the new government is. President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist camp and the conservatives together do not have an absolute majority in the National Assembly. Bayrou had hoped that the Socialists and possibly the Greens and the Communists would tolerate him. However, the left-wing parties were disappointed by talks with the center politician. However, the fact that some members of the government historically come from the political left could be seen as a gesture.

The current left-wing camp, together with Marine Le Pen’s right-wing nationalists and their allies, brought down the Barnier government with a vote of no confidence. Without its own majority and without tolerance, Bayrou’s cabinet risks suffering the same fate.

Stability is not guaranteed

France’s political crisis could therefore continue. The National Assembly is divided between the left, right-wing national and center camps. Unlike in Germany, coalitions are unusual. There is a stronger confrontation course in parliament.

The situation is particularly unfortunate because the indebted country still does not have a budget for the coming year. The previous government collapsed in the dispute over the planned austerity budget. Because of the excessive new debt, the EU Commission is running deficit proceedings against Europe’s second largest economy. Bayrou’s government statement is expected on January 14th.