Challenges Faced by Michel Barnier

Michel Barnier, appointed as Prime Minister by Macron, is experiencing significant difficulties in forming a functional government amidst a politically fragmented landscape in France. His party, aligned with traditional Gaullist values, is contending with a situation where Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National received the popular vote, yet was only able to secure a third of the parliamentary seats. Barnier's government, reflecting a centrist right-wing orientation, faces fierce opposition from both the left and Le Pen's followers, making the passage of critical legislation, such as an austerity budget, highly challenging. Barnier has even hinted at the possibility of resigning should he fail to solidify a governing coalition, signaling potential instability ahead for Macron's administration.