Barnier government: list of ministers finally revealed, demonstrations throughout France

08:40 – The left is also outraged by the choice of ministers.

The members of the New Popular Front, who failed to impose their Prime Minister Lucie Castets on Emmanuel Macron despite their narrow lead in the last legislative elections, have unanimously denounced the government being formed in the last 24 hours. “This is going to be the government of the Manif pour Tous”, denounced the head of the LFI deputies Mathilde Panot on TF1. “Why was there a dissolution if it is to have more or less the same, even more to the right?”, asked the former socialist president François Hollande.

08:34 – Macronists very critical of Michel Barnier’s choices

After Gabriel Attal’s outburst, who threatened to no longer support the government in the event of a tax increase this week, several Macronists were outraged by the names that began circulating since Thursday regarding the composition of the new government. “After all the work we have accomplished on the societal level, Laurence Garnier and Bruno Retailleau in government, it’s a no!” commented the Ensemble pour la République (EPR) MP Ludovic Mendes.

08:27 – A list of 38 ministers presented in the press

As a reminder, after having gathered the heads of the various parties that could enter the government on Thursday, the Prime Minister had submitted a list of 38 ministers to the President of the Republic during the day. A list that had then circulated in the press. The team presented on Thursday was to include 16 full ministers, including ten from the presidential camp (Ensemble pour la République, Horizons, MoDem) and three Republicans (LR) (see below). Then Matignon had announced that the government would be presented “before Sunday” pending the green light from the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP). Some last-minute adjustments between Barnier and Macron may have modified this initial list.

08:21 – Everyone must help him succeed” says Emmanuel Macron

On a trip to Chartres for the European Heritage Days, Emmanuel Macron yesterday called on his supporters and allies to “help” the Prime Minister “form his government”. “Everyone must help him succeed because it is in the collective interest”, insisted the Head of State, adding that Michel Barnier was composing his team in “complete freedom”.

08:17 – Will the Modem be represented in the Barnier government?

After several meetings on Friday around François Bayrou, there was last night “no decision taken” on the participation or not of the centrist party in the government, the MoDem group argued to AFP. “There are still unknowns, we do not have 100% of the answers to our questions”, it was added, nevertheless highlighting “a feeling of responsibility” and “a desire to support Barnier”.

08:10 – Ministers too far to the right in the Barnier government?

The presence on the government list submitted Thursday evening to the Elysée of Bruno Retailleau for the Interior or, for the Family, of LR senator Laurence Garnier, who had opposed same-sex marriage and the constitutionalization of abortion, has caused a stir among the Macronists, particularly among the MoDem deputies who were still hesitant to join the team in this context.

08:04 – Talks between Barnier and Macron until late in the evening?

The head of government was to have a telephone conversation “in the evening” with the President of the Republic, AFP reported yesterday evening. When asked, the Elysée did not confirm this interview. A postponement of the government’s announcement, if it is still possible, would be considered a sign of deep disagreement between the two men and would prolong a saga that, according to observers, has lasted too long.

08:00 – A new government during the day

Hello and welcome to this live broadcast where we have been following Michel Barnier’s difficult composition of his government for several days. The latter should be announced this Saturday, Matignon having promised a government “before Sunday”. Michel Barnier transmitted last night “the finalized architecture and composition” of his team to Emmanuel Macron, the Prime Minister’s entourage announced, while some names of potential ministers marked very far to the right were still causing concern in the presidential camp.

20/09/24 – 23:33 – New ministers appointed this Saturday?

END OF LIVE – The list of names of future ministers was finalized and sent to the Élysée this Friday evening. A call between Emmanuel Macron and Michel Barnier was to be organized in the wake. Elements that suggest that the government could well be announced this Saturday. Especially since on Thursday evening, Matignon assured that the announcement would be made “before Sunday”.

20/09/24 – 22:55 – Could the RN censor the Barnier government?

Questioned Friday evening on franceinfo, the deputy of the National Rally, Philippe Ballard, did not close any doors. According to him, the RN does not make “an a priori trial” of the Barnier government, however, the party of Jordan Bardella “has never excluded [non plus] to vote for a censure in the coming weeks and months.” Everything will depend on the Prime Minister’s plan.

20/09/24 – 22:27 – Several demonstrations organized Saturday against the Barnier government

After a first rally on September 7, youth organizations and associations from civil society are calling for mobilization this Saturday “against the Macron-Barnier policy.” The organizers see Michel Barnier’s appointment to Matignon as “a denial of democracy.” Joining this call to demonstrate throughout France are: the Student Union and the High School Union, Attac, Family Planning, Greenpeace France and Nous Toutes, to name but a few. On the party side, La France Insoumise is also calling for people to march in the streets. Around sixty demonstrations have been recorded. In Paris, the procession will leave at 2 p.m. from Place de la Bastille.

09/20/24 – 9:52 p.m. – “I am leaving after more than four smooth years and after the success of the Olympics”: Darmanin takes stock

After saying his goodbyes on the social network X, the resigning Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, let himself go with a few confidences this Friday with France Televisions. “For me, freedom begins!” declared the man who had held the Ministry of the Interior for four years and 76 days. “Usually the Minister of the Interior leaves because something went wrong. For my part, I am leaving after more than four years without incident and after the success of the Olympic Games,” he rejoices.

Recognizing having made “some mistakes at the beginning”, Gérald Darmanin admits having “learned patience” at Beauvau. What about the future? “There are difficulties in building a country, unbearable discrimination that we have not been able to listen to and resolve. I will get down to it”, confides the man who also plans to write a book and who is especially said to have presidential ambitions.

09/20/24 – 9:23 p.m. – Why is Laurence Garnier’s name at the Family causing an uproar on the left and in Macron’s party?

It is a name that has provoked strong reactions, most often negative. The LR senator from Loire-Atlantique, Laurence Garnier, is expected to be appointed Minister Delegate for the Family. However, the senator’s old positions have been exhumed and put forward by the left or certain Macronists to denounce this still unofficial appointment. Recently, in 2024, the senator opposed the constitutionalization of abortion. In 2016, when she was a regional elected representative for the Pays de la Loire, she opposed the funding of an LGBT festival that she accused of “promoting GPA”. In 2014, she took part in the Manif pour tous movement, against same-sex marriage.

Laurence Garnier’s hypothesis, which is nevertheless solid, therefore creates astonishment on the left. “The French did not vote against the constitutionalization of abortion, against marriage for all, against the ban on conversion therapies. Laurence Garnier as Minister of the Family would be one more betrayal of the vote of French women and men,” wrote the socialist MP for Nantes Karim Benbrahim. As for the Macronists, some are also indignant, like a parliamentarian who reacted, according to BFMTV : “I feel pain for my France. I didn’t sign up for this. I’ve been vomiting for three hours.”

09/20/24 – 8:57 p.m. – Violette Spillebout, expected at the Ministry of National Education?

While on Thursday evening no name was mentioned for the Ministry of National Education in the various lists published in the media, this Friday morning, that of Violette Spillebout, a 52-year-old Macronist MP, finally came out. She was formerly Martine Aubry’s chief of staff. Portrait.