Macron makes up his mind and chooses a prime minister for France, and it’s the former Brexit Commissioner

White smoke in Matignon. Nearly two months after the second round of legislative elections, the Head of State appointed Michel Barnier to form the new government on Thursday, Sept. 5, according to a statement from the Elysee Palace. Michel Barnier succeeds Gabriel Attal, becoming the fifth occupant of Matignon since Emmanuel Macron was elected President of the Republic in 2017. The handover of power between the new prime minister and Gabriel Attal is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Matignon, according to concordant sources reported by BFMTV.

Michel Barnier, 73, is a member of the Republicans and declares himself a Gaullist. He was first elected deputy at the age of 27. His career includes terms as a senator, MEP and several ministries, including Agriculture and Foreign Affairs, as well as a stint as European Commissioner. He was also Brussels’ chief Brexit negotiator with Britain, and in this light he will remain in history for his rigidity, which led to a Brexit that was ultimately mediocre for everyone. A politician from birth, literally, who knows little, if anything, about the real world.

Among the members of Parliament and leaders of the presidential camp, the Head of State put his name to the test this morning.

The attempt to have a government not challenged after an hour by RN

In its press release, the Elysée stated, “This appointment comes after an unprecedented round of consultations during which, in accordance with his constitutional duty, the president has ensured that the prime minister and the government to come will meet the conditions to be as stable as possible and give themselves the opportunity to rally the widest possible support.”

According to information provided by Europe 1, BFMTV, and LCI, the Rassemblement National is unlikely to censure a government led by Michel Barnier, provided that the general policy speech he delivers, if appointed, meets their expectations. On BFMTV, RN MP Sébastien Chenu commented that Michel Barnier’s profile “doesn’t make anyone dream,” but added, “I’m waiting to see.”

In his view, the Republican National would not “immediately” censure a prime minister who committed to proportional representation, addressed the issues of immigration, security, and the purchasing power of the French, and respected the RN as the leading political force. For his part, Jean-Philippe Tanguy, another RN MP, described Michel Barnier as a “fossil” on France Inter, although he did not comment on the immediate censure.

In short, Barnier shows how LR are now a kind of branch of Macronism that opens and closes when it wants. Barnier could survive as a government if he proposes the RN program, or at least stand as long as Le Pen wants him to. Once he gets electoral law reform so as to prevent desistance in the second round, then with a proportional single round, perhaps with an access threshold, RN will have achieved its goals. Without considering that Barnier, character-wise, is the worst figure: pro-European, rigid, tough, definitely not a figure who will arouse sympathy.

So Macron shows that he can win their elections and then humiliate them. Provided that he does not then