Latest news with #Macron-aligned
Euractiv
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Euractiv
Ex-PM Barnier seeks political comeback with a bid in Paris by-election
PARIS – Michel Barnier, the EU's former chief Brexit negotiator and briefly serving French prime minister in 2024, has announced his candidacy for a Paris parliamentary seat, seeking to reassert himself on the national political stage. 'As someone who has lived in this constituency for a long time, my candidacy is part of a rallying effort for the right and centre,' he said on X, after French media Le Figaro first reported the news. The 74-year-old veteran of the conservative Les Républicains party is entering the race following the annulment of a Macron-aligned candidate's 2024 victory, overturned due to campaign spending irregularities. The by-election is to take place in September, and other candidates have not yet made their intentions public. While Barnier built his political base in the Savoy region, his bid for this Parisian seat is part of an effort to raise his profile ahead of key electoral contests, an advisor to Barnier said. 'He has said several times that this is not the time to talk about presidential candidacies, as the right is continuing its breakthrough in France, partly thanks to him, but he wants to weigh in on ideas and help build this dynamic,' the close advisor said. The race for the Paris district, a traditionally centre-right stronghold near the Seine river and the Eiffel tower, is shaping up to be a key test for alliances between Macron's centre-right Renaissance and the conservatives Les Républicains. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, recently elected as president of Les Républicains, has already voiced support for Barnier's candidacy. 'Renaissance can't possibly put anyone in front of him,' the close aide added. The by-election is also expected to attract national attention, reflecting the broader political turbulence that has ensued since Macron called snap elections in 2024. His centre-right party has struggled to govern amid gains by both the far right and the left in the parliament, and is now facing mounting internal divisions. The move also comes as the race for Paris mayor begins to gather pace – and a win at the National Assembly could position Barnier to play a role in shaping that contest. Culture Minister Rachida Dati, who has positioned herself as a potential candidate, has called for a united front between the conservatives and centrists to prevent a split vote. If elected, Barnier would support her but has no plan to run himself for the contested election in any case, his aide said. The former EU official would, however, always keep an eye on Europe, they added, as he tries to maintain close ties with fellow conservatives, having recently met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ursula von der Leyen. (mm)
LeMonde
18-06-2025
- Business
- LeMonde
Six months later, Bayrou is still France's PM
One deadline extension after another, and with the help of various stalling tactics, on Friday, June 13, French Prime Minister François Bayrou managed to reach the six-month mark for his time in office, lasting twice as long as his predecessor, Michel Barnier. He marches on, but at a cautious pace. Bayrou still has to operate under the threat of a no-confidence vote in a majority-less Assemblée Nationale. He put a new "idea" on the table on Monday, June 16, the day before the expected conclusion of a key series of talks on the pensions system: a "bonus" paid to older employees who "choose to stay at work." And he said he was ready to give the negotiators from the labor unions and employers' organizations extra time to examine the proposal. The end of the talks, initially scheduled for May 28, then June 17, was therefore delayed once again. "He's dragging things out," said a Macron-aligned lawmaker.
LeMonde
05-06-2025
- Business
- LeMonde
Government prepares the French for new tax increase in 2026
Officially, no decision had yet been made. Only around mid-July will Prime Minister François Bayrou reveal his final decision and present the broad outline for the 2026 budget and his plan to restore public finances over three or four years. That could include a possible referendum on the subject. However, as ongoing negotiations have progressed, a significant shift has already emerged from previous statements: a tax hike will be difficult to avoid. Bercy, the French Ministry of the Economy and Finance, has begun preparing the public for that outcome. On Tuesday, June 3, officials from the Ministry of the Economy and Finance said during a press briefing on the budget preparation timeline that the government's goal was for the majority of the 2026 financial effort to focus on limiting public spending. These saving measures, which were expected to account for most of the planned adjustment, would, however, almost certainly have to be coupled with an increase in tax revenues. Such a prospect is likely to anger the right. "In France, it is never the right time to cut spending; there is a kind of refusal to face the problem," said Senator Jean-François Husson (Les Républicains, right-wing), and general rapporteur on the budget. "But we will have to tackle it." Charles Sitzenstuhl, a Macron-aligned MP, also expressed concern: "I fear that, as with [former prime minister] Michel Barnier, we will start by promising spending cuts only to end up with a tax explosion."
LeMonde
27-05-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
French MPs are due to vote on assisted dying bill
From the speaker's podium at the Assemblée Nationale on May 24, Roland Lescure opened the final debate session on the bill establishing a right to "assisted dying" by praising the MPs present. "I congratulate you," said Lescure, an MP from Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party, commending the "exemplary examination" of the bill, which is set to go to a vote on Tuesday, May 27. No uproar or heated clashes disrupted the seven days of debate devoted to the bill, which, according to the MPs from the left and centrist blocs who championed it, "guarantees a final freedom." However, there was still some dissension among lawmakers of the Macron-aligned centrist bloc. Supporters of this "major bill" did not deliver any passionate speeches. They stuck to a low profile in both the substance and style of their interventions – a deliberate strategy. "Let's not give arguments to those who are opposed to the bill no matter what," said Olivier Falorni, a left-wing independent MP who was the bill's lead rapporteur, on May 2, speaking to left-wing MPs tempted to extend the assisted dying right to minors. Catherine Vautrin, the minister for labor, health, solidarity and families, attended almost all the roughly 90 hours of parliamentary debates, and set herself two objectives: To reassure critics about the "strict" nature of the eligibility criteria for assisted dying, and to provide "guarantees" aimed to "secure" the procedure.
