Macron seeks new PM as special budget bill is introduced to avoid government ‘shutdown’

French government under Prime Minister Michel Barnier had a last meeting of ministers on Wednesday ahead of his resignation.

The outgoing PM worked on a “special bill” designed to maintain government operations into 2025 by addressing critical budgetary decisions for 2024.

The proposed legislation, which aims to prevent a government “shutdown”, will be debated and needs to pass in both the National Assembly on Monday and in the Senate on Wednesday.

“This is a bill that, to put it simply, in terms you have often used, allows us to avoid a shutdown,” said Laurent Saint-Martin, Minister Delegate for the Budget and Public Accounts.

“It is a bill that temporarily authorises the government to continue collecting existing taxes and duties until the vote on the finance law for the year.”

Appointment of a new prime minister

President Emmanuel Macron has previously promised to appoint Barnier’s successor by Thursday. However, when asked about this timeframe, government spokesperson Maud Bregeon declined to provide further details.

“The President of the Republic has not given any indication of the time frame of his upcoming choice,” Bregeon said, adding “What I can simply tell you and what you know is that the President of the Republic, which is his role, is the guarantor of the institutions and in this context, he is obviously looking for a solution of stability.”

France hopes for a peaceful transition in Syria

Separately, ministers also touched on the evolving situation in Syria. Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot highlighted the region’s significant changes and the need for a peaceful transition, while simultaneously guarding against the risk of extremism.