Representatives of the New Popular Front, led by Lucie Castets, were received at the Elysée Palace by Emmanuel Macron during his consultations for the appointment of a new prime minister in Paris on August 23, 2024. However, on September 5, the New Popular Front issued a statement urging Macron to finally appoint Lucie Castets as prime minister to “break the deadlock”. Despite this plea, a few hours later, Michel Barnier of the Les Républicains party was appointed as the new prime minister by Macron. This decision was met with strong opposition from various left-wing parties.
The Parti socialiste announced that it would censure Michel Barnier, stating that he lacked political and republican legitimacy. Olivier Faure, the first secretary of the PS, described the nomination as a “denial of democracy pushed to its peak” and criticized the appointment of a prime minister from a party that finished fourth and was not part of the republican front against the National Rally. This move was seen as a crisis of the regime by Faure and other members of the left-wing alliance.
Leaders of different left-wing parties, such as Jean-Luc Mélenchon of La France insoumise and Fabien Roussel of the Communist Party, expressed strong disapproval of Michel Barnier’s appointment. Mélenchon accused the government of denying the message sent by voters in the legislative elections, where the New Popular Front won but did not secure a majority. Roussel described the decision as a “slap in the face to the French people” and expressed outrage along with other opposition leaders.
Former President François Hollande suggested that Michel Barnier may have been chosen by Macron with the tacit approval of the National Rally, indicating a potential political strategy behind the appointment. Hollande called for Barnier to explain his selection before the Assembly. Lucie Castets criticized the new prime minister for his “reactionary ideas” and pointed to his past opposition to the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1981, which was condemned by Mélenchon as well. The appointment of Barnier has sparked controversy and criticism within the political landscape in France.
The decision to appoint Michel Barnier as the new prime minister has intensified the political divide in France, with various left-wing parties uniting in their opposition to the government. The New Popular Front, along with other parties, has vowed to fight against the new government and its policies. The nomination of Barnier has raised concerns about the direction of French politics and the level of democracy within the political system. The response to Barnier’s appointment reflects the deep divisions and tensions within the French political environment.
As the controversy over the appointment of Michel Barnier continues, the opposition parties remain united in their criticism of the decision and their determination to challenge the new government. The appointment has reignited debates about democratic principles and political legitimacy in France. The reaction to the nomination of Barnier highlights the ongoing challenges and complexities of the French political landscape, as different parties navigate their positions and strategies in response to the changing political dynamics. The appointment of Barnier as prime minister has sparked a new chapter in the political landscape of France, with implications for the future of the country’s governance and leadership.
