Editorial: Le Monde

• France has a new prime minister, Michel Barnier, the oldest in the history of the Fifth Republic, following Emmanuel Macron’s electoral defeat.
• Barnier's appointment, meant to break the political stalemate, has had a damaging effect on the republican front established to protect the country from the rise to power of a far-right party.
• Barnier's appointment was made possible by the far-right party, the National Rally (RN), announcing that they would not veto his appointment.
• Barnier's appointment neither resolves the political crisis that opened with Macron's dissolution of the Assembly nor the confidence crisis shown in a recently published survey.
• All parties bear responsibility for this situation, and the failure to achieve a compromise and form a coalition shows the absence of such ability in French politics.

Conclusion: Barnier's political survival hangs on his negotiation skills. His immediate task will be to face the tough 2025 finance bill amidst rising concerns over security, immigration, and access to public services.

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