Michel Barnier – the European Union’s former chief Brexit negotiator who was appointed prime minister on September 5 – promised on Wednesday to name a French government “next week.”
“We’re going to do things methodically, seriously,” said Barnier, 73, appointed by President Emmanuel Macron after legislative elections failed to produce a majority in the National Assembly (lower house of parliament).
“I’ve met most of the group presidents, I’m continuing and I’m coming to see the MPs, the senators, to listen to them too,” this figure of the traditional French right told the press.
“Next week, we will name the government,” added the new prime minister, charged with putting together a delicate coalition of personalities from the left, center and right in his government team.
Furthermore, Barnier assured parliamentarians from Edouard Philippe’s Horizons party that there would “of course” be members of this movement in his government.
The prime minister also said he was “extremely touched” by the “welcome” extended by these elected representatives, who were holding their first meeting in Reims. Edouard Philippe, president of Horizons, had assured the prime minister that “many of us will be there to help him” after Barnier’s appointment, who also comes from the right.
With AFP
