in the National Assembly, the Prime Minister tries “the splits” so as not to “rush” anyone during his general policy declaration

“This is the best time!” mocks a National Rally deputy. It is 4:20 p.m., Tuesday October 1, and Michel Barnier has just announced to the national representation that his general policy declaration is coming to an end. The Prime Minister promised to deliver his speech for one hour from the podium of the National Assembly. He ultimately stayed a little longer, like what his two predecessors, Gabriel Attal and Elisabeth Borne, had done.

For one hour and 22 minutes, Michel Barnier presented his legislative program, detailing the projects he plans to undertake from Matignon. Impassive in the face of the invectives of the deputies of La France inspoumise, the Prime Minister engaged in this imposed exercise without losing a certain phlegm, he who was the chief negotiator of Brexit. “ He prepared a lot for this, with those who have known the Assembly since 2022″ confided a minister, met at the Palais-Bourbon earlier in the day. The lower house, which has become a real cauldron in the context of relative majority for two years, is not unknown to Michel Barnier: he has been a deputy and minister on multiple occasions. But it was the time of absolute majorities.

During his speech, the former European Commissioner listed his five priorities at the head of government: the standard of living of the French, public services, daily security, control of immigration and more fraternity in a country which was divided into three large blocs during the last legislative elections. In the hemicyle, theThe reception is at first very silent. The Savoyard takes the podium without any applause to accompany him, as if none of the 11 political groups dared to support him openly. The context, too, is heavy: at the opening of the session, the deputies paid tribute, during a minute of silence, to Philippine, the 19-year-old student raped and killed in the Bois de Boulogne on the weekend of the 20 september. It is 3 p.m., the Prime Minister speaks.

“I am aware of the seriousness and importance of this moment for our common action and for the French people who are watching and listening to us.”

Michel Barnier, Prime Minister

during its general policy declaration

Two minutes later, the deputies of La France insoumise took out their voting cards to denounce the illegitimacy of the new government. “It’s been four months since the rebels were in the cauldron, it’s going to be a mess”predicted a Les Républicains deputy a few days ago. But the rest of the left-wing groups did not respond and the bailiffs quickly intervened to put an end to the stunt. The Prime Minister continues his presentation, without mentioning.

Gradually, the invectives of the radical left elected officials dry up and decrease in intensity, in a hemicycle lulled by the tone of the head of government. “In form, he is a statesman facing insurgents rendered mute”savors an LR deputy close to Michel Barnier. “A speech by a European commissioner who came to sell an austerity plan imposed by Macron’s coup and implore the benevolence of Le Pen”castigates LFI elected official Matthias Tavel. After a little over an hour of speech, Mathilde Panot lets out a yawn. “It’s like the man: slow and monotonous”slips a Macronist MP. “The exercise is not simple, but both in form and substance: a trickle of lukewarm water”supports another deputy from the central bloc.

Michel Barnier nevertheless strived to defend a method made of“listen” and “dialogue” two words repeated about ten times each Tuesday afternoon. A challenge to macronism? Set aside during the previous pension reform, the social partners will have to “think about adjustments, reasonable and just, of the law” of 2023. While the government took control of the latest unemployment insurance reform, the social partners are taking control here too. “There is more use of intermediate bodies than macronia did” praises LR deputy Yannick Neuder.

Faced with the verticality often criticized for macronism, Michel Barnier praises the culture of compromise, praised by Elisabeth Borne before him. “The word ‘compromise’ is not a bad word. You don’t compromise yourself when you compromise,” he warns the deputies of this Assembly, which is more fragmented than ever. However, the Prime Minister is not undertaking any major break with the policy pursued since 2017. “There are a lot of covers of what we did or what we were working on”welcomes former minister Franck Riester. Except, importantly, on the tax issue. Michel Barnier hears “ask for an exceptional contribution from the wealthiest French people” as well as a “participation in the collective recovery of large companies which make significant profits”. For part of the presidential camp, these avenues are not desirable.

“I agree with corrections but not with increases with a view to creating new output.”

Franck Riester, EPR deputy and former minister

at franceinfo

“I am always very, very skeptical about tax increases. I think it will damage the country” says an Ensemble pour la République MP. “It seemed like Attal, less well said, with less leadership and with tax increases” mocks a former minister.

Throughout his speech, the Prime Minister also tried to give assurances to other political groups. “The advantage of not having announced much concrete is that it doesn’t give the left anything to hit on” laughs an LR deputy. As it had announced, the left will table a motion of censure at the end of the week to try to bring down the government. But part of the New Popular Front welcomed the abandonment of the constitutional bill on the reform of the electoral body in New Caledonia, which was to be submitted to Congress.

Barnier is right to liquidate Macron’s disastrous policy in New Caledonia-Kanaky.

— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) October 1, 2024

On the side of the National Rally, elected officials welcome the reflection started on proportional representation in the legislative elections and the firmness displayed on immigration. The proposals of Bruno Retailleau, Minister of the Interior, “remind me of a certain presidential program”smiles Marine Le Pen, on the platform. The boss of RN deputies has ruled out, for the moment, censoring the Barnier government, while she and other executives of the far-right party have been on trial since Monday at the trial of FN parliamentary assistants.

Who did the Prime Minister really disappoint with his long speech? “Everyone finds their little ones there and no one is rushed. (…) He tries the splits, it screams, but it can hold” philosopher a ministerial advisor. “Basically, it was pure Barnier. Even if it meant disturbing the Eurosceptics and the ultra-liberals of the common base” estimates an elected official close to the tenant of Matignon. Despite a speech “soothing” as the socialist Arthur Delaporte described it, the Prime Minister is far from having put most of the deputies in his pocket. Including those of his “common base”.