The nomination of Michel Barnier, a veteran of both French and EU politics, to the post of French prime minister, is “a surprise and a delicate gamble” by French president Emmanuel Macron. That’s according to our guest in Talking Europe, economist and political analyst Jean Pisani-Ferry. He tells Armen Georgian that the new French government will not be able to avoid difficult decisions, especially when it comes to the country’s alarming budget deficit. “We can’t afford to navigate with a short-term perspective,” Pisani-Ferry says.
“Barnier doesn’t have the support of a majority in parliament. He’s been appointed with the promise that the (far right) National Rally will not introduce a vote of no-confidence immediately. And obviously the left is absolutely furious. So he’s in a precarious situation,” Pisani-Ferry asserts. “But from a European standpoint, it’s different. There must be relief in European capitals and in Brussels because Barnier knows Europe. He’s pro-European. He’s experienced. So there is an element of stability.”
