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September 5, 2024 - 4:15pm
So the Hammer of the Brits has finally got his reward. Until his unexpected appointment as prime minister of France today, Michel Barnier was best known to UK audiences as the EU’s implacable Brexit negotiator. In retrospect — given subsequent events in Ukraine — the EU attitude to the breakaway UK was absurdly hostile, but there’s no doubt that Barnier handled his brief with aplomb.
For putting rebellious Albion in its place, he might have expected to go on to greater things. He’d have made an impressive head of the European Commission — perhaps too impressive, which is why he didn’t get the job. Barnier also tried to become the conservative candidate in the 2022 French presidential election, but lost out to the hapless Valérie Pécresse. Now aged 73, Barnier might have been heading for retirement, but in a twist of fate he’s been handed the keys to the Matignon instead.
Not that he was anyone’s first choice. In the last few days one name after another has been put forward, only for each to be vetoed by the power-brokers in the hung French Parliament or by Emmanuel Macron himself. A more senior conservative, Xavier Bertrand, was in the running until yesterday, but it’s rumoured his appointment was blocked by Marine Le Pen.
In contrast, the reaction of Le Pen’s party to Barnier’s appointment was acquiescent. In a statement today, the President of the National Rally (RN), Jordan Bardella, said that “we take note of the appointment of Michel Barnier as Prime Minister of Emmanuel Macron.” However, he added that if his party isn’t satisfied with Barnier’s actions in office then they “reserve all political means of action”. Reading between the lines, it appears that Macron has reached some sort of understanding with Le Pen and Bardella. The fact is that even with the centre-right onside, the President’s allies lack a majority. Therefore, to overcome the French Left, Macron also needs the help of the populist Right.
It could be that Le Pen just wants to prevent Macron from choosing a socialist prime minister such as Bernard Cazeneuve. If, however, she wishes to drive a harder bargain, look out for possible changes to the voting system for elections to the National Assembly. Under proportional representation, the RN and allies would have been by far the largest group in the Assembly instead of coming third.
Or perhaps we could see the new government take a much harder line on immigration. When he was running for president in 2021, Barnier surprised observers by proposing “a referendum on the question of immigration” and insisting on French “legal sovereignty”. British Remainers didn’t know where to look, but the delicious irony was not lost on Brexiteers. As for his fellow Frenchmen, it could be that Barnier’s appetite to confront the EU on immigration and other issues is what persuaded Le Pen to give him the nod as prime minister.
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SubscribeZut alors, you could frappe moi down avec une plume! Je suis positively Michel-shocked!
Monsieur Barnier – Mr Europe – The man for whom the 4 Freedoms were indivisible and entirely sacrosanct.
The man who refused to accept the idea that the EU could or should ever give an inch to Brexit Britain in negotiation.
The man for whom ECJ edicts were as unchallengeable as the word of God.
All well and good whilst he sat cocooned in his Ivory Tower at the Berlaymont, part of the technocratic priesthood dictating doctrine, safe from the inconvenience of ever having to achieve a popular mandate.
But then, in one of the most comical volte faces of recent years, Mr Europe started channelling his inner Farage, and taking the line that “We must regain our legal sovereignty so that we are no longer subject to the rulings of the European Court of Justice or the European Court of Human Rights.”
Isn’t it illuminating that even the most staunch defender of the EU has to turn against the institutions and point out their obvious faults if he wants to appeal to an actual voter?
As a rule, I would suggest that anyone whose principles are that malleable and changeable has no principles at all.
Sounds like the perfect man for the job.
And quite possibly perfect as President…
“But France is no longer a Great Power…”
“But France is a Great Nation”…de Gaulle..
Despite its problems, as true now as when de Gaulle said it…
By this appointment Macron scores another own-Gaulle.
“Sounds like the perfect man for the job”
I had a good laugh when I read your last line..!
…… deleted as posted twice ….
The British didn’t know how to handle Barnier. They were too English!