The new election in France

Analyst: Cow trade required to pass a budget

Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government's main goal is to pass a budget that cuts costs significantly, but observers see major challenges for the center coalition, several media write.

Firstly, they must agree with each other, secondly, the minority government needs support from the opposition to get its policies through, writes Eurointelligence's analysts according to Reuters. "This means that additional concessions and maneuvering are required," they continue.

The ex-president and left-wing politician Francois Hollande, who has made a comeback in parliament, believes that Barnier's government is "fragile". He does not rule out a vote of no confidence, he told the France Bleu radio channel, according to Bloomberg.

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The new prime minister promises higher taxes for the richest

France's new Prime Minister Michel Barnier plans to raise taxes on the country's richest. He says so in an interview on France 2.

- I cannot exclude the richest, most successful people from the national effort to improve our situation, he says.

Getting the budget together for 2025 is described by Reuters as Barnier's "most daunting task".