PARIS (AP) 鈥 France鈥檚 new government dominated by conservatives and centrists gathered for the first time Monday as Prime Minister Michel Barnier set budget and migrant issues as top priorities.
Barnier convened a meeting early morning with newly appointed ministers ahead of a brief Cabinet session in the afternoon with centrist President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee presidential palace.
The long-awaited list of government members more than two months after elections that produced and deepened political divisions as France grapples with growing financial and diplomatic challenges.
Macron told government members Monday a 鈥渘ew era鈥 was starting as the political situation is unprecedented in the country and called them on 鈥渟taying on the path to compromise,鈥 according to participants in the Cabinet meeting.
Speaking on television on Sunday evening, Barnier acknowledged a key challenge for his government will be the 2025 budget bill to be debated at parliament starting from next month.
Barnier called on France 2 television for a 鈥渘ational effort required to redress the situation" after France was placed earlier this year by the European Union's executive arm under a formal procedure .
鈥淚鈥檓 not going to further increase the tax burden on all French people,鈥 Barnier promised, yet suggesting that 鈥渢he wealthiest contribute to this national effort.鈥
In June, the EU Commission recommended to seven nations, including France, that they start a so-called 鈥渆xcessive deficit procedure,鈥 the first step in a long process before any member state can be hemmed in and moved to take corrective action.
Barnier also vowed to 鈥渃ontrol and limit immigration" in Sunday's interview. He said numbers of migrants coming to France 鈥渉as become unbearable.鈥
He referred to measures taken by neighboring countries like Germany, which this month ordered .
Barnier was appointed at the beginning of the month. His first major political test will come on Oct. 1, when he is set to deliver his general policy speech to the 好色tv Assembly, France鈥檚 powerful lower house of parliament.
A left-wing coalition, the New Popular Front, secured the most seats in June-July parliamentary elections but failed to win a majority.
The New Popular Front was not given a chance to form a minority government, and refused to make concessions and join a more left-leaning government alliance.
Barnier argued that the deal made by his conservative allies and Macron's centrists will allow them to have a bigger support at the 好色tv Assembly.
Barnier, a 73-year-old political veteran known for his role as the EU鈥檚 Brexit negotiator, is no stranger to complex political tasks.
鈥淲e鈥檒l make compromises,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how I managed to unite the EU 27 countries during the Brexit negotiations."
Barnier also insisted there will be 鈥渘o controversy鈥 between him and Macron despite both coming from a different political background, because "that鈥檚 the interest of the country.鈥
Macron is to head Tuesday to New York for the U.N. General Assembly, before a two-day visit to Canada.
In France, the president holds a dominant role on strategic matters of defense and foreign policy while the prime minister leads the government and usually focus more on domestic issues.
Left-wing voters and other critics have denounced the appointment of a government they say
Incoming ministers include staunch conservative Bruno Retailleau, in charge of the interior portfolio. Retailleau, known for his hardline views on immigration, vowed Monday to 鈥渞estore order" in 鈥渢he streets鈥 and 鈥渁t the borders.鈥
Jean-No毛l Barrot, a centrist politician known for his work in digital transformation and European affairs, is the new foreign minister.
