Barnier at Matignon, composition of the new government … Sylvain Maillard’s “8:30 franceinfo”

The member of parliament for Ensemble pour la République (EPR) from Paris, Sylvain Maillard, is the guest of “8h30 franceinfo” on Saturday, September 7. He answers questions from Bérengère Bonte and Hadrien Bect.

As discussions begin on the composition of Michel Barnier’s government, Sylvain Maillard is the guest of “8h30 franceinfo” with Bérengère Bonte and Hadrien Bect.

“Accompaniment”, not “a blank check”

The deputy Ensemble pour la République (EPR) Sylvain Maillard declared on franceinfo this Saturday morning that his group in the assembly had “the responsibility of supporting Michel Barnier” but that this should not constitute a “carte blanche”. “We have the responsibility to ensure stability for a government”he added, saying that the ex-Renaissance deputies were “ready to participate in government” Barnier “if it matches the guidelines” defended by the Macronist camp.

🔴 Nomination de Michel Barnier ➡️ "On est prêts à participer au gouvernement", déclare Sylvain Maillard. pic.twitter.com/RxHsJ6PvUv

— franceinfo (@franceinfo) September 7, 2024

“We are the most important group” in the National Assembly, estimated Sylvain Maillard, the group of 99 deputies Together for the Republic being the largest in the central bloc. “Our idea is not at all to censor. Our idea is to support a government, to find stability”he said. “At the same time, he is not a Renaissance Prime Minister, so we are supporting him with kindness, but we are watching carefully.”qualified the former president of the Renaissance group of deputies.

Pension reform: “We must maintain financial balance”

If Michel Barnier said he wanted “open the debate” for a “improvement” of the controversial pension reform, it is necessary, according to Sylvain Maillard, “maintain financial balance”. But on the subject of pensions, “nothing is blocked”assured the deputy Together for the Republic. “There will be other pension reforms, there will be developments obviously, but our red line is that we must maintain financial orthodoxy, otherwise the system will not hold”he stressed.

Immigration: “It is essential to maintain state medical aid”

The new Prime Minister, from the right, also reiterated his priorities of “controlling migratory flows with concrete measures”The 73-year-old from Savoy had notably defended very firm positions on the subject of immigration, advocating for a “moratorium”during his campaign for the LR primary in 2021.

🔴 Politique de Michel Barnier sur l’immigration ➡️ "Ce sera le choix du Premier ministre de faire évoluer les lois", selon Sylvain Maillard. pic.twitter.com/iPmT0YC7pX

— franceinfo (@franceinfo) September 7, 2024

Sylvain Maillard notably recalled that the subject of a possible attempt by the Barnier government to repeal state medical aid (AME) for illegal immigrants was a red line. “For us, it is essential to preserve it”he stressed.

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The full broadcast can be found below: