France's new Prime Minister Michel Barnier, gathering his cabinet for the first time on Monday, told ministers to focus on action rather than stunts as he sought to change voters' perceptions that previous governments had been too arrogant.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier urged his freshly-appointed cabinet Monday to avoid "bluster" and "show respect for all our fellow citizens" as it gets to work, an official in his office said.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier asked his freshly appointed Cabinet Monday to avoid "bluster" and "show respect for all our fellow citizens" as it gets to work, an official said. A long wait for the new French government — 11 weeks after a snap election called by President Emmanuel Macron — ended Saturday when the new team was announced.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier said on Sunday that he would not raise taxes on most French taxpayers, although the wealthiest would have to help close a hole in the budget.

French shipping billionaire Rodolphe Saade said his company is ready to contribute more tax to help repair France’s stretched public finances, indicating resignation may be setting in among some of the country’s wealthiest citizens to a shift in government policy.

"The French people want and need tax justice," Michel Barnier noted after his recent appointment, looking for ways to plug France's budget deficit. View on euronews