French President Emmanuel Macron has “ confirmed Élisabeth Borne as Prime Minister, in an interview with AFP on Saturday June 25. The fate of the head of government has been the subject of speculation since the presidential party lost its absolute majority in parliament in the legislative elections of June 19, but she will be responsible for presenting a ” new action government for early July, he announced.
In an interview with AFP, Emmanuel Macron said he had ” decided to confirm (her) confidence in Elisabeth Borne “, which he asked to reflect on a ” new action government for early July.
The French president, who had just spoken with her, specified that he had asked him to sound out the political groups to the National Assembly next week on a ” government agreement “, as well as on top their possible participation in a government, or even on their position on a vote of confidence in Élisabeth Borne on July 5. The head of state also asked her to sound out the vote on the state budget next fall.
” When I return (peaks) G7 and NATO (which are held until Thursday – editor’s note), the Prime Minister will submit to me proposals for a roadmap for the government of France over the coming months and years, and also for the composition of a new government of action at the service of France that we will put in place in the first days of July “, he added.
This government may be joined by representatives of other political forces ready to cooperate with the presidential party. Emmanuel Macron nevertheless underlined that these discussions will take place in the ” framework of the presidential project and that of the presidential majority which may be amended or enriched “. However, a red line is established: do not increase ” neither taxes nor debt “.
Expected return of the pension reform
Despite his defeat in the legislative electionsthe Head of State has not renounced pension reform, set aside at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The reform aims to work longer as all our neighbors do, taking into account working conditions and therefore hardship rules, taking into account long careers “, he said.
It is, with the reform towards full employment, ” the two major reforms that we must carry out in consultation, without totems or taboos, but keeping a course of ambition “.
The Head of State, looking for reinforcements after having lost the absolute majority last Sunday in the Assembly, ruled out the possibility of an agreement with the far-right National Rally party, as well as with France insoumise (radical left). This because the two formations, according to him, “ do not register as government parties “. Possible allies, it will be communists in LR “, he said, in reference to the traditional right-wing party Les Républicains.
(With AFP)
►Also watch: Without a majority, how can Macron hold out?