E UROPE IS A continent of coalition governments, painful to forge and fragile to maintain. Most European politicians are familiar with their challenges. For Michel Barnier’s new French government, however,

After more than two months without a functioning government, France’s new cabinet got to work Monday. How long it will remain in office is unclear. French politics have been in limbo since inconclusive snap legislative elections in late June and early July.

In the new team, which is uncertain how long it will last, there are 39 ministers, mostly from the right, and none from the left bloc, even though they had the majority in the last legislative elections.