France’s new Prime Minister Michel Barnier has completed the difficult task of forming a government and is expected to present the composition of the future cabinet to President Emmanuel Macron this evening, the government said on Thursday.
The political landscape in France remains unstable following the snap parliamentary elections some two and a half months ago, which failed to produce a clear majority or coalition capable of forming a government.
Macron appointed Barnier, a former EU commissioner, as prime minister two weeks ago with plans to present a new Cabinet this week.
Barnier held consultations with leading representatives of parties from Macron’s centrist forces and the conservatives, as he is banking on their support for a future government.
During the meeting, which was also attended by Barnier’s predecessor Gabriel Attal, the architecture and balance of the future government were presented, according to the government.
Macron’s centrist alliance came in second in the elections, behind the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance which consists of the hard-left France Unbowed, the Socialists, the Communists and the Greens.
The new government is expected to be publicly presented on Friday.
It is still unclear to what extend Barnier will fill ministerial posts with candidates from the left-wing camp.
The NFP had initially rejected to participate in a government, after Macron refused to nominate its own candidate as prime minister and chose the conservative Barnier instead to form a government.