John Keiger John Keiger

Why France’s media is keeping quiet about Michel Barnier’s health

French prime minister Michel Barnier underwent surgery (Getty images)

France’s 73-year-old prime minister, Michel Barnier, underwent surgery last weekend for a lesion on his upper neck. According to the government spokeswoman yesterday, the operation ‘went well’ and the PM is back at work after two to three days’ rest. French media have been characteristically tight-lipped about the health of France’s second in command and the Fifth Republic’s oldest prime minister. 

Le Monde – sometimes thought of as an unofficial organ of the state – merely trotted out the official communiqué; Le Figaro added that the operation was considered benign and that test results will be known in coming weeks. It is the first time in 40 years, as far as we know, that a serving French prime minister has been operated on, although presidents Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy were both hospitalised in 2005 and 2009 with minimal media fuss.

John Keiger
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John Keiger

Professor John Keiger is the former research director of the Department of Politics and International Studies at Cambridge. He is the author of France and the Origins of the First World War.

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