French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Michel Barnier as the new prime minister, nearly two months following the political stalemate that resulted from France’s snap elections.
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Prime Minister of France – Mr. Barnier, aged 73, previously served as the European Union’s chief negotiator for Brexit, overseeing discussions with the UK government from 2016 to 2019. A seasoned member of the right-wing Republicans (LR) party, he boasts an extensive political career, having held numerous high-ranking positions both in France and within the EU framework. He now faces the challenge of forming a government that must navigate a National Assembly characterized by three major political factions, none of which can secure a definitive majority.
Three years prior, Mr. Barnier expressed his ambition to challenge President Macron for the French presidency, emphasizing his desire to regulate and manage immigration. However, he ultimately did not secure his party’s nomination. Mr. Barnier is poised to become the oldest prime minister of France since the establishment of the Fifth Republic in 1958. He is set to take over from Gabriel Attal, who holds the distinction of being France’s youngest prime minister, having been appointed by President Macron in early 2024 and serving as caretaker since July. President Macron’s selection of prime minister has already sparked dissatisfaction within the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP), which emerged with the most seats in the July snap election.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the radical France Unbowed (LFI), criticized the appointment of a prime minister from a party that finished last in the elections…
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the radical France Unbowed (LFI), the largest party within the NFP coalition, expressed his outrage, claiming that the election had been “stolen from the French people.” He criticized the appointment of a prime minister from a party that finished last in the elections, stating, “This is now essentially a Macron-Le Pen government,” in reference to the leader of the far-right National Rally. Mr. Mélenchon has called for public participation in a left-wing protest against Mr. Macron’s decision, scheduled for Saturday.
Michel Barnier, the former chief negotiator for Brexit on behalf of the European Union….
Michel Barnier, the former chief negotiator for Brexit on behalf of the European Union, has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of France, according to an announcement from the French president’s office. This decision concludes a two-month period of political deadlock following inconclusive parliamentary elections. In a statement released on Thursday, the Élysée Palace declared: “The President of the Republic has designated Michel Barnier as Prime Minister. He is tasked with forming a cohesive government to serve the nation and its citizens.” The statement further noted that Barnier’s appointment follows “an unprecedented series of consultations” aimed at establishing a stable government.
At 73 years of age, Barnier is a committed Europhile and a member of the Republicans party, which embodies the traditional right. He is widely recognized internationally for his pivotal role in facilitating the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union.
With four decades of experience in French and European politics, Barnier has occupied numerous ministerial roles in France, including those of foreign minister, agriculture minister, and environment minister. He has also served two terms as a European commissioner and acted as an adviser to Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission. In 2021, Barnier declared his intention to run for the presidential elections but was unable to secure sufficient backing from his party. In July, President Macron accepted the resignation of former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and his cabinet following the defeat of his centrist Ensemble alliance in the second round of France’s snap parliamentary election. Since then, the president has encountered demands from various political factions to appoint a new Prime Minister. Last week, during a visit to Serbia, Macron informed journalists that he was “making all the necessary efforts” to finalize a candidate.
The likelihood of Barnier successfully establishing a stable government remains uncertain. At present, France’s far-right National Rally (RN) ranks among the largest parties in the parliament following the elections held in early July. The party has previously indicated a willingness to collaborate with Barnier and has not outright rejected him. However, RN member Laurent Jacobelli expressed criticism towards Barnier during an interview with the French television network TF1, stating, “They are reviving those who have governed France for 40 years.” Barnier is recognized for his role as the chief negotiator during the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union. The protracted negotiations between London and Brussels spanned from 2016 to 2021, and he is noted among Brexiteers in the UK for his firm negotiating stance.
Born in January 1951 in a suburb of Grenoble, Barnier was first elected to parliament at the young age of 27.
