PARIS — French Prime Minister Michel Barnier underwent an operation for a cervical lesion over the weekend, his doctor said in a statement shared by his office on Monday. “Everything went very well,” the statement read. The results of the procedure are expected “within a few weeks.” Barnier has since resumed work and plans to make … Read more
At a hearing last week, the Bank of Italy, while broadly favorable, suggested the government’s plan was too vague and optimistic. The question remains whether Italy can keep it up: Seven years is a long time, and future governments may think differently. “Certainly I remain concerned about the underlying growth story,” said Balboni, noting among … Read more
Macron tapped the former Brexit negotiator as premier in September in a bid to bring stability to France after a snap election this summer resulted in a hung parliament, but his appointment was met with fury by the left-wing alliance that won the most seats in that contest. Lawmakers from the left have vowed to … Read more
A harder line on migration Barnier’s speech will reveal how far his government wants to go on fighting illegal migration. While Barnier is seen in EU circles as a creature of Brussels given his work as the bloc’s Brexit negotiator, his political positions lean conservative — especially in terms of migration. Barnier’s new junior Europe … Read more
The so-called exceptional contribution on the profits of big companies would consist in raising from 25 percent to 33.5 percent the tax rate on profits of companies with a turnover above €1 billion, according to Le Monde. The measure would impact around 300 companies and could bring to state coffers around €8 billion a year, … Read more
“Renaissance is supporting a largely right-wing government whose survival depends on good will of National Rally,” Canfin said. He said he would remain as part of the party’s group in the European Parliament. Canfin was one of the few Renaissance officials who publicly urged Macron to work with the pan-left New Popular Front coalition to … Read more
Minister of Justice: Didier MigaudMinister for Territorial Partnerships and Decentralization: Catherine VautrinMinister of the Interior: Bruno RetailleauMinister of National Education: Anne GenetetMinister of Europe and Foreign Affairs: Jean-Noël BarrotMinister of Culture and Heritage: Rachida DatiMinister of Defense: Sébastien LecornuMinister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate, and Risk Prevention: Agnès Pannier-RunacherMinister of Economy, Finance, and Industry: Antoine … Read more
His stance on immigration could prove critical in securing at least tacit support from the far right in parliament. Barnier is in the right-wing Republicans party and has in the past proposed “putting a stop to non-European immigration for three to five years,” a stance close to Le Pen’s own. “It’s undeniable that Michel Barnier seems … Read more
The leftist alliance secured a surprise victory in France’s snap elections, which Macron called after the far right’s triumph in the European elections in June. Despite finishing first, however, the New Popular Front fell far short of an absolute majority. The French Greens, the Communists and Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s France Unbowed movement all called on their … Read more
France’s new right-wing Prime Minister Michel Barnier started consulting all sides Friday to cobble together a government capable of mustering a majority in parliament after two months of political deadlock. The 73-year-old, a former foreign minister who recently acted as the European Union’s Brexit negotiator, is the oldest premier in the history of modern France. … Read more
