# Barnier government

The Barnier government (French: gouvernement Barnier) was the 45th government of France during the period of the French Fifth Republic. It was formed in September 2024 after President Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier as Prime Minister on 5 September, replacing Gabriel Attal. It was a caretaker government from 5 December until its dissolution on 13 December 2024.
On 5 September, Barnier was invited by Emmanuel Macron to "form a unity government". With only 212 out of 577 seats in the National Assembly, the centre-right coalition began as one of the smallest minority governments in French history, having to rely in the lower house on support or neutrality from other parties, including the National Rally. It taking office also marked the first time under the Fifth Republic a government had a legislative majority in the Senate, but not in the National Assembly.
On 4 December 2024, the Barnier government collapsed after the National Assembly passed a motion of no confidence in a 331–244 vote. It was the first French government to be toppled by Parliament since 1962. Following the vote, Barnier and his government resigned the following day and continued as caretaker government until a new government was formed.

## Formation
### Context

After the dissolution of the 16th legislature by Macron on 9 June 2024, the early legislative election took place on 30 June and 7 July. While the National Rally was originally anticipated to obtain a majority or plurality, it came third in seats behind the New Popular Front and Ensemble.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, having only served six months in office, offered his resignation to Macron, who accepted it on 16 July. The day before the opening of the Paris Olympic Games, the New Popular Front designated Lucie Castets to be its candidate for the premiership. In reaction, arguing that "no one won [the elections]", Macron announced the holding of consultations to form a government.
On 16 August, at the end of the Olympic Games, Macron invited party leaders and presidents of parliamentary groups from both chambers to the Palais de l'Élysée on 23 August to try to form a government. After the President met the party leaders and the presidents of parliamentary groups, Macron's office announced in a press release on 26 August that Castets would not be appointed prime minister.
On 2 September, Emmanuel Macron met with Bernard Cazeneuve, former Socialist Prime Minister from 2016 to 2017, and Xavier Bertrand, current Hauts-de-France region president, as they were touted as top contenders for the premiership. Faced with the risk of a successful vote of no confidence, the appointment of Michel Barnier was considered on 4 September. On 5 September, almost two months after the second round of legislative elections, Macron appointed him as PM. While the NFP announced it would move a motion of no confidence against any government not led by them, the National Rally announced that it would wait for the general policy statement of the new government before deciding whether to support any motions of no confidence.
Barnier's appointment was met with ire from the NFP and its supporters, who claimed that Macron's appointment of a conservative PM favorable to Macron's centrist policies was unrepresentative of the voting results, and amounted to a "denial of democracy". Left-wing parties called on their members to join the nationwide demonstrations, with the Socialist Party being the only main alliance member of the NFP to not explicitly call on its supporters to participate. Protests were held on 7 September 2024. According to organizers, roughly 300,000 participated, with about 160,000 protesting in Paris. France's Interior Ministry estimated that there were 110,000 nationwide protesters, with 26,000 in Paris.
On 9 October, the Barnier government survived a no-confidence vote brought by the New Popular Front, which fell 92 votes short of the 289 needed. The National Rally allowed the government to survive the motion by abstaining from the vote.

## Collapse

On 2 December, Barnier pushed through a social security financing bill, using Article 49.3, which allows a vote of no confidence. A motion of no confidence was called by the New Popular Front and the National Rally resulting in the collapse of the government. The motion passed 331–244, toppling the government three months after its formation and making it the shortest-lived government in the history of the French Fifth Republic. It was also the first French government to lose a motion of no-confidence since Georges Pompidou's in 1962.

## Composition

Barnier's ministers were named on 21 September, formed of centrists and conservatives. All ministers are placed in the order of precedence defined by the Order of the Protocol defined by the Elysée when the government was announced.

### Ministers

| Portfolio | Name | Party |
| Prime Minister | Michel Barnier | LR |
| Minister for Justice | Didier Migaud | SE |
| Minister for Territorial Partnerships and Decentralization | Catherine Vautrin | RE |
| Minister of the Interior | Bruno Retailleau | LR |
| Minister of National Education | Anne Genetet | RE |
| Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs | Jean-Noël Barrot | MoDem |
| Minister for Culture | Rachida Dati | SE |
| Minister of the Armed Forces | Sébastien Lecornu | RE |
| Minister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate, and Risk Prevention | Agnès Pannier-Runacher | RE |
| Minister of Economy, Finances and Industry | Antoine Armand | RE |
| Minister of Health and Access to Care | Geneviève Darrieussecq | MoDem |
| Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy, and Gender Equality | Paul Christophe | HOR |
| Minister of Housing and Urban Renovation | Valérie Létard | UDI |
| Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry | Annie Genevard | LR |
| Minister of Labor and Employment | Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet | RE |
| Minister of Sports, Youth and Community Life | Gil Avérous | SE |
| Minister of Higher Education and Research | Patrick Hetzel | LR |
| Minister of Civil Service, Streamlining, and Public Sector Transformation | Guillaume Kasbarian | RE |

### Deputy Ministers

| Portfolio | Attached minister | Name | Party |
| Minister for Europe | Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs | Benjamin Haddad | RE |
| Minister to the Prime Minister, Minister of the Overseas | Prime Minister | François-Noël Buffet | LR |
| Minister to the Prime Minister, Minister of the Budget and Public Accounts | Prime Minister | Laurent Saint-Martin | RE |
| Spokeswoman of the Government | Prime Minister | Maud Bregeon | RE |
| Minister for Relations with Parliament | Prime Minister | Nathalie Delattre | PR |
| Minister for Government Coordination | Prime Minister | Marie-Claire Carrère-Gée | LR |
| Minister for Rural Affairs, Trade and Crafts | Minister for Territorial Partnerships and Decentralization | Françoise Gatel | UDI |
| Minister of Transport | Minister for Territorial Partnerships and Decentralization | François Durovray | LR |
| Minister of the Sea | Minister for Territorial Partnerships and Decentralization | Fabrice Loher | UDI |
| Minister for Daily Safety | Minister of the Interior | Nicolas Daragon | LR |
| Minister of Veterans Affairs | Minister of the Armed Forces | Jean-Louis Thiériot | LR |
| Minister for Academic Achievement and Vocational Education | Minister of National Education | Alexandre Portier | LR |
| Minister for Foreign Trade and French Abroad | Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs | Sophie Primas | LR |
| Associate Minister for Industry | Minister of Economy, Finances and Industry | Marc Ferracci | RE |
| Minister for Social and Solidarity Economy, Interest and Participation | Minister of Economy, Finances and Industry | Marie-Agnès Poussier-Winsback | HOR |
| Minister of Tourism | Minister of Economy, Finances and Industry | Marina Ferrari | MoDem |
| Minister responsible for energy | Minister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate, and Risk Prevention | Olga Givernet | RE |
| Minister for Family and Early Childhood | Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy, and Gender Equality | Agnès Canayer | SE |
| Minister for Persons with Disabilities | Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy, and Gender Equality | Charlotte Parmentier-Lecocq | HOR |

### Secretary of State

| Portfolio | Attached minister | Name | Party |
| State Secretary for Citizenship and Anti-Discrimination | Minister of the Interior | Othman Nasrou | LR |
| Secretary of State for Francophonie and International Partnerships | Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs | Thani Mohamed Soilihi | RE |
| State Secretary for Consumer Affairs | Minister of Economy, Finances and Industry | Laurence Garnier | LR |
| Secretary of State for Equality between women and men | Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy, and Equality between women and men | Salima Saa | SE |
| Secretary of State for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies | Minister of Higher Education and Research | Clara Chappaz | SE |