Factbox-Michel Barnier’s first challenges as new French prime minister By Reuters

PARIS (Reuters) – French conservative Michel Barnier, appointed prime minister by President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, is facing an overflowing inbox, particularly because of the burdensome budget legislation that needs to be passed.

Below are the likely next steps Barnier will take as he settles into his new office.

FORMING A GOVERNMENT

The first task of this political veteran is to form a new government, which Macron must approve.

Since Macron does not have a parliamentary majority, Barnier will have to carefully consider who gets which ministerial portfolio, as opposition parties are relentless about any casting errors.

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

Traditionally, shortly after a government is formed, the new prime minister delivers a speech to the National Assembly, outlining policy priorities, such as possible reforms.

If the new Prime Minister subsequently does not request a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives, opposition parties can do so instead.

A motion of no confidence in Barnier’s government would require 289 votes in favour in the 577-seat House of Commons.

With left-wing parties set to vote against him, Barnier’s political survival will likely depend on whether the far-right Rassemblement National party abstains from voting against him.

They have said they want to wait and see what he has to say on immigration and changes to the French electoral system.

BUDGET

If Barnier clears that hurdle, the first major policy challenge he will face will be drafting legislation for the 2025 budget. This legislation must be handed to legislators by 1 October at the latest.

That leaves Barnier’s team little time to complete the work already prepared by the outgoing government by mid-September, when the national supervisor of public finances must, by law, rule on whether the figures are correct.

That will be no easy task, with the budget deficit already exceeding billions of euros this year, leaving Barnier with tough choices to make about how to balance spending cuts and tax increases.

Once the bill is submitted to parliament, Barnier’s new finance minister will have to resist attempts to radically rewrite the bill, amid calls from the left for broad tax increases.

The budget bill is likely to have a difficult passage through parliament and will likely take the rest of the year, with a final vote usually taking place in December.

If the opposition parties are not satisfied, they could call for a vote of confidence, putting Barnier’s government at risk of falling.