After the appointment of Michel Barnier’s government, what is the political agenda for the coming weeks?

Already criticized and threatened with censorship, the new government, unveiled after more than two weeks of difficult negotiations, is taking its first steps on Monday.

A “government breakfast” before a busy menu. The 39 ministers and secretaries of state of the new government, led by Prime Minister Michel Barnier, met for the first time on Monday, September 23 at Matignon, from 8 a.m. Then they headed to their respective ministries for the traditional ceremonies of handover of power between the outgoing and incoming ministers. The latter already see many crucial deadlines looming, two days after their appointment. To help you find your way around, franceinfo details the main stages of this political return.

A breakfast to “set a course”

The breakfast organized on Monday morning was a first opportunity “to exchange informally” and of “to set a course and pace for government life”, explains to franceinfo the entourage of the Prime Minister. According to this source, Michel Barnier wants a “new approach, with more humility, efficiency, proximity to improve the daily lives of the French”. It was also “an opportunity for some to get to know each other”in this team which mixes, for the most part, figures from the Republicans and the presidential camp.

A first Council of Ministers

Monday morning was largely devoted to the transfer of power in most ministries. Then, barely installed, they headed to the Elysée. At 3 p.m., the members of the government attended their first Council of Ministers. This collegiate formation, which brings together all the ministers every week under the chairmanship of the head of state, is traditionally held on Wednesdays. This time, Emmanuel Macron wanted to bring together the new ministers as soon as possible.

The Head of State called on ministers to “stay in a process of compromise” and to demonstrate “spirit of dialogue”according to participants. The head of government then requested that “solidarity”of the “simplicity” And “no arrogance”within a team he wants “republican”, “progressive” And “European”.

A government seminar on Friday

The Prime Minister will attend the conference of group presidents of the National Assembly on Tuesday morning, then the Senate conference on Wednesday afternoon, according to Matignon. Michel Barnier will also meet with the group leaders of his coalition, as well as the social partners.

Michel Barnier will chair a government seminar on Friday from 3pm to 6pm, his team announced. This meeting aims in particular to prepare his general policy statement, where he will present his roadmap. It will be followed by the official photo of the government, which will be taken at Matignon, without Emmanuel Macron.

Parliamentary session scheduled for October 1, pending a general policy speech

The date for the resumption of the ordinary session, in both the Assembly and the Senate, is set by the Constitution as the first working day of October. After having succeeded, despite the great difficulties that were imposed on him, in putting together his government on the wire, will Michel Barnier deliver his general policy statement on the day when legislative work resumes? This is what the entourage of Gabriel Attal, Michel Barnier’s predecessor, had declared to France Télévisions on Thursday. However, on Monday, Matignon specified to franceinfo that this date “is not stopped”The Prime Minister’s general policy speech is a roadmap in which he sets out his priorities and the direction he is taking as head of government.

The New Popular Front is ready: it has already planned to draft a motion of censure that will be tabled by the socialists just after the Prime Minister’s general policy speech. The National Rally is keeping its intentions vague. If the government is not censured, current questions to the government (QAG) will resume immediately, with two weekly sessions, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Towards a presentation of the 2025 budget on October 9

The organic law also sets the first working day of October as the final deadline for submitting the draft finance bill (PLF) to Parliament. But it is likely that Michel Barnier plans to present the draft budget for 2025 on 9 October. Again, the date has not been set, according to Matignon. Because in order to be able to discuss the PLF, the Assembly or the Senate must first decide on the first reading of another budget text, which concerns the management of accounts during the previous year. The preparation of the budget, which has been delayed by an unprecedented amount, has become the number one emergency.

October 31, the review of the RN parliamentary niche

While the bulk of the legislative program for the next parliamentary session is currently unknown, a date has already been entered into the agenda: that of the first day of parliamentary initiative. Once a month, a day dedicated to a parliamentary group, which therefore has the right to choose the agenda of the texts debated and voted on. The largest group in terms of the number of deputies in the new Assembly has the right to start. It is therefore the National Rally, with 126 deputies, which will benefit from the first day reserved for the opposition, and this will be held on October 31, specifies the Vie publique website. The bill tabled by the RN to reverse the pension reform, deemed admissible on Wednesday, will therefore be able to be examined on that day.