On Tuesday, October 1, two different realities unfolded in France. Thousands of people, led by trade unions including the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) and Solidaires, took to the streets demanding the repeal of President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial pension reform, salary increases, and broader improvements to their living standards. Meanwhile, newly appointed Prime Minister Michel Barnier delivered his inaugural speech in the National Assembly, laying out a vision for his mandate that was, essentially, everything but what the workers are rallying for.
Ahead of the protests, trade union leaders emphasized once again that Barnier’s appointment reflected contempt for democratic principles and the recent election results. The left-progressive New Popular Front (NFP) coalition secured the most parliamentary seats, but President Macron, citing fears of instability, refused to let them form a government. Instead, after weeks of delay, he turned to the right-wing Barnier.
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If there were any doubts about the direction Barnier’s policies would follow, they were quickly cast aside after the speech. He made it clear that, rather than spending more, the government would focus on “spending better,” which is typically neoliberal code for further cuts to social services. France, already grappling with critical shortages of education and healthcare workers, is unlikely to see improvements under these policies. Rather than hiring new staff and improving working conditions, the government is expected to rely on retired workers and auxiliary staff to plug the gaps in these vital sectors.
On the other hand, Barnier announced more (spending on) policing, security, and border control. Immigration was a major focus of his address, with the prime minister claiming that current policies had failed to meet integration objectives. Rather than reaffirming these objectives and providing migrants with more support, however, Barnier proposed more detention and stricter border enforcement. Whether these measures will cost more than properly funding public services remains, at this point, unconfirmed.
A particularly significant moment in Barnier’s speech was his signaling to a new relationship with the far-right National Rally (RN). Marine Le Pen’s party, long kept out of power by other political forces, now stands to play a key role in supporting Barnier’s government. Macron’s snap election earlier this year was ostensibly called to block the RN from gaining influence, but, thanks to the president’s manipulations, Barnier’s administration now depends precisely on the far-right for stability. His pledge to “listen, respect, and dialogue with all political forces” was seen as a clear nod to the RN.
This nod confirms what many social movements and progressive groups in France had already warned about. In the desperate attempt to safeguard his neoliberal project, Macron has delivered exactly what the people demanded he avoid: further austerity, more spending on policing, and a stronger position for the National Rally.
