PARIS (AP) 鈥� Lawmakers gave a rough ride, heckling him constantly, as he laid out his proposed policies in an inaugural speech to parliament on Tuesday, a baptism of fire that highlighted how difficult governing will be for his minority government.
In a wide-ranging speech, Barnier, a veteran conservative, warned soberly of , promised belt-tightening and more taxation to improve the nation鈥檚 finances, and said France will continue to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia鈥檚 invasion.
But he also faced angry shouts from left-wing lawmakers and immediate criticism from the far right, now a powerful force in parliament after surprise elections three months ago, of not being tough enough against immigration.
The address to the new legislature鈥檚 opening session was a crucial test for his new government, which has no clear majority in the parliament. The National Assembly after .
The mood in the chamber was closely watched for signs of how difficult opposition lawmakers intend to make it for the 73-year-old veteran conservative and EU Brexit negotiator to get things done and keep power.
Here's a look at Barnier's key proposals and consensual approach.
More taxation and less expenses
Barnier made a priority of remedying France's indebted public finances.
鈥淭he true sword of Damocles is our colossal debt,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f we are not careful, it will take our country to the edge of the precipice.鈥�
Barnier announced an 鈥渆xceptional鈥� tax on France's wealthiest individuals 鈥� but did not specify who, exactly, falls into that tax bracket. He also said an extra contributory 鈥渆ffort鈥� will be asked of large companies making big profits.
France is under pressure from the European Union鈥檚 executive arm to reduce its debt.
Still, tax hikes would go against the fiscal philosophy of French President Emmanuel Macron, who consistently cut taxes when he still had a government with a clear majority in parliament.
Barnier also said he aims to curb spending, saying France has 鈥渕uch to do鈥� but adding: 鈥淲e must do with little.鈥�
He said his government will seek to reduce France鈥檚 deficit from an estimated 6% of Gross Domestic Product now to 5% next year and under 3% by 2029.
To do so, he promised to cut state expenses, spend money more 鈥渆fficiently鈥� and fight tax evasion and other frauds.
Rein in immigration
Barnier, who had , said he wanted to 鈥渂etter control鈥� the numbers of people coming to France.
He proposed to 鈥渇acilitate鈥� the detention of foreigners who are staying illegally in the country pending the implementation of deportation orders.
He said France will continue 鈥渁s long as needed鈥� to implement controls at its national borders in the passport-free area in Europe.
In addition, Barnier suggested that the number of visas granted would be conditional on other nations鈥� ability to provide consular documents for their citizens being deported from France after arriving illegally. A similar move by Macron prompted in 2022.
Stand by Ukraine
France 鈥渨ill remain at the side of the Ukrainian people,鈥� Barnier said. He stressed Ukrainians are fighting 鈥渢o defend their sovereignty and freedom鈥� but also to defend 鈥渟hared values鈥� with France and Europe.
He vowed to implement France鈥檚 multi-billion-euro plan to , spurred by the war in Ukraine, in the coming years.
France 鈥渨ill also remain active鈥� in the Middle East, he added.
鈥淭he worsening situation in Lebanon ... requires our full mobilization with our partners in the region, the United States and Europeans, to put an end as quickly as possible to hostilities that are seriously threatening the stability of the entire region,鈥� he said.
Seeking compromises
Barnier's speech covered his plans to tackle problems as diverse as mental health and aid for farmers to wind power and sexual violence.
Yet, he carefully avoided to enter into divisive details, tiptoeing through the political minefield and using soft language.
Left-wing lawmakers kept up a steady drumbeat of shouted comments throughout but failed to throw the veteran politician off his stride. He responded to the heckling with flashes of wry humor and said he aims to listen to and respect all lawmakers 鈥渆ven if this respect is not always reciprocal.鈥�
He called on politicians to 鈥渟eek compromises,鈥� overcome their "divisions and quarrels鈥� and 鈥漚ct in the best interests of the country.'
Bruno Lefebvre, a professor in political sciences at the University of Lille, said Barnier鈥檚 鈥渞ather calming speech鈥� took no risks.
鈥淗e knows he鈥檚 in an ejection seat,鈥� Lefebvre said. 鈥淗e has very little room for maneuver."
Barnier vowed to fight racism and antisemitism. He also insisted his government , just six months after France became the first country to a woman鈥檚 right to voluntarily terminate a pregnancy.
He said the parliament will start debating again next year a proposed bill to allow adults with terminal cancer or other incurable illness to take lethal medication, as public demands grow for legal options for .
A weakened government
June-July legislative elections left the National Assembly split between three main blocs, none of them with enough legislators to govern alone. Barnier, appointed last month, primarily recruited ministers from Macron鈥檚 centrist alliance and the conservative Republicans to form his government.
Most sharply opposed to Barnier is a loose grouping of left-wing parties, the New Popular Front. As a coalition, it secured the most seats in the legislative elections but fell short of a majority. To bring down the new government with a no-confidence vote, the New Popular Front would need support from legislators on the far right who, for the moment, are adopting more of a wait-and-see attitude toward Barnier.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said Tuesday she could hear 鈥渇ew solutions鈥� in Barnier鈥檚 proposals. 鈥淲hat will you really do to in the face of a booming legal and illegal immigration ... which you almost didn鈥檛 talk about?鈥� she asked.
Yet she confirmed her party, the National Rally, won鈥檛 support a no-confidence vote for now.
Barnier described his address as a roadmap 鈥渇or the 2 1/2 years ahead of us鈥� to the next presidential election scheduled in 2027. 鈥淣ever!鈥� a lawmaker shouted back 鈥� reflecting widespread expectations that his government won鈥檛 last that long.
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AP Writer Diane Jeantet contributed to the story.
Sylvie Corbet And John Leicester, The Associated Press
