Barnier becomes new French PM and bids to end turmoil
Veteran French conservative Michel Barnier has assumed the role of prime minister, following nearly two months of political deadlock after France’s snap elections.
Barnier, who previously served as the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, emphasized the gravity of the moment and his commitment to addressing it with humility, stating, “All political forces will need to be respected and listened to, and I mean all.”
President Emmanuel Macron appointed Barnier after extensive discussions with political parties and potential candidates.
At 73, Barnier succeeded Gabriel Attal, who had served as France’s youngest-ever prime minister for the past eight months.
Barnier’s immediate challenge is to form a government that can operate within a National Assembly fragmented into three major political blocs, none of which holds a clear majority.
He will need to utilize all his political expertise to navigate this complex landscape, especially as the center-left Socialists are preparing to contest his appointment with a vote of confidence.
In the coming days, Barnier pledged to address the various challenges, frustrations, and feelings of abandonment and injustice that permeate French society. He promised to be transparent with the public about the country’s financial and environmental issues and to work with “all those in good faith” to foster respect and unity.
It has taken President Macron 60 days to make up his mind on choosing a prime minister, having called a “political truce” during the Paris Olympics.
In his farewell speech outside Hôtel Matignon, Gabriel Attal said “French politics is sick, but a cure is possible, provided that we all agree to move away from sectarianism”.
Having led the marathon talks on the UK’s exit from the European Union between 2016 and 2019, Mr Barnier has considerable experience of political deadlock. He has had a long political career in France as well as the EU and has long been part of the right-wing Republicans (LR) party.
Known in France as Monsieur Brexit, he is France’s oldest prime minister since the Fifth Republic came into being in 1958.
Three years ago, he tried and failed to become his party’s candidate to take on President Macron for the French presidency. He said he wanted to limit and take control of immigration.
