New French prime minister Michel Barnier spoke about immigration and mental health as among his key priorities during a televised interview yesterday, his first since announcing the new government on Saturday (September 21).
He also said he would not raise taxes on the middle-class and lower income households.
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He was interviewed on France 2 on Sunday, answering questions on key policy points, as well as the make-up of his government, which has been criticised for being too right-wing.
Below, we outline the key points of the interview.
On taxes / the economy
“I am not going to raise taxes further on all French people, not on the most modest, nor on people who work, nor on the middle classes,” said the prime minister.
However, “the richest people [need to] take part in the solidarity effort,” he said. Sources close to Mr Barnier said he is looking into bringing back a general wealth tax (Impôt sur la fortune) to raise funds.
France’s national debt is over €150 billion, and its debt to GDP ratio is higher than the 5.5% requested by the EU.
Read more: New French PM Michel Barnier ‘does not rule out tax rises’
Mr Barnier also outlined his intention to raise taxes on some companies.
“I don't want to add to the ecological and financial debt, so we need to make a collective effort to control spending, which can be done by targeting levies on… certain large companies,” he said.
He did not confirm or rule out a rise in corporation tax (currently 25% in France), but did say that “very large companies can also contribute to the national recovery effort.”
On his new cabinet
The new government is not one of cohabitation despite being made up of ministers from multiple parties, he said.
A ‘cohabitation’ government is the term in France for when the president and prime minister come from different parties, usually after a legislative election brings in a majority of MPs to the party opposing the president. You can read more about cohabitation governments below.
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In Mr Barnier’s case, however, French President Emmanuel Macron appointed him despite his party not having the most MPs in the chamber.
“Most of the parliamentary base that will accompany the government is made up of MPs and senators, many of whom have supported and accompanied the President of the Republic for seven years,” he said.
Despite this, there are still criticisms that the new government is made up of many right-wing MPs, going directly against the earlier claims that Mr Barnier was to lead a ‘government of national unity’ bringing together multiple forces across the political spectrum.
Only one of the 19 new ministers – Justice Minister Didier Migaud – is said to be left-wing, and more than one quarter of the ministerial posts (10 of the 39) are from the right-wing Les Républicains party. This is despite them winning only 6% of the vote at the legislative elections earlier this year.
On immigration
Immigration needs to be treated “with much greater rigour” Mr Barnier said, ruling out any “taboos” on discussing the topic.
“We are going to do practical things, like all our neighbours, to control and limit immigration, which is often becoming unbearable and which, moreover, leads to us not [being welcoming] to those we welcome here,” he said.
The new Interior Minister in charge of immigration, is known for a hardline stance on immigration
“There will be no ideology, there will be no sectarianism,” said the prime minister, and policy decisions would be made “in good understanding” with the EU and France’s neighbours.
Mr Barnier said he would also look into social fraud committed by immigrants as a way for the state to save money.
On retirement and pensions
The new government will “take the time to improve the pension reform… We have a law that provides a financial framework and I think that this financial framework must be preserved.”
Mr Barnier made no comment on whether the retirement age will remain at 64, but when campaigning to be presidential candidate for right-wing Les Républicains in the 2022 election, he said he wanted to raise the age to 65.
Unions are still protesting the increase in retirement age (from 62 to 64).
On social rights
The prime minister said “major laws… of social or societal progress,” will be “fully preserved.”
These include LGBT rights, IVF treatment, and the right to an abortion, which was recently added to France’s constitution.
Outgoing prime minister Gabriel Attal reportedly asked Mr Barnier for a guarantee that these rights would be protected.
Mr Barnier’s new cabinet has been criticised for the conservative views some members hold, and gay rights advocates have called out the new prime minister for his previous voting record on LGBT rights.
Read more: Immigration, EU, pay: What are PM Michel Barnier's known policies?
On health
The new prime minister wants to make mental health “the national cause of 2025” in France, with a focus on improvement to services.
He used the example of his mother, who was the head of a mental health association in France (National Union of Friends and Families of the Mentally Ill) for 35 years.
A national council about mental health was supposed to run this summer, but was cancelled after President Macron called the snap election.
Activists have criticised the make-up of Mr Barnier’s new cabinet, as there is no specific portfolio for disabled people – it will instead fall under the Minister for Solidarity and Autonomy, held by Paul Christophe.
