France has unveiled a new government under Prime Minister Michel Barnier, aimed at balancing right-wing and centrist factions following snap elections that resulted in a hung parliament, Reuters reports.
Barnier, tasked with breaking the political deadlock, has formed a cabinet that includes conservative figures, like Bruno Retailleau as interior minister, while the finance minister role went to the relatively unknown 33-year-old Antoine Armand due to rejections from senior politicians. Despite bringing in 10 conservative politicians, Macron retained key ministers, including defence minister Sebastien Lecornu. Only one left-wing politician, Didier Migaud, joined as justice minister.
Barnier’s government, a minority administration, depends on support from opposition parties, including Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally, to pass legislation (NR). The NR has given conditional backing, while left-wing leaders expressed frustration and criticized the cabinet as a recycling “election losers.”
