Macron Appoints Michel Barnier as France’s New Prime Minister

Macron Appoints Michel Barnier as New Prime Minister

In a significant political move, President Emmanuel Macron of France appointed Michel Barnier, a seasoned conservative politician and the former chief negotiator for the European Union during the Brexit discussions, as the new prime minister on Thursday. This decision aims to navigate the political stalemate that has enveloped the nation following the inconclusive snap parliamentary elections held nearly two months ago.

The French presidency announced in an official statement that Mr. Macron had entrusted Mr. Barnier “with the task of forming a unity government to serve the country and the French people.” This appointment comes at a time when public scrutiny of Macron has intensified, particularly due to the prolonged delay in naming a prime minister.

For several weeks, consultations with various political leaders yielded no fruitful outcomes, as a revolving door of prospective candidates were suggested by the presidency, only to be dismissed by competing factions the very next day. This uncertainty has added to the political tension in the country.

At 73 years old, Mr. Barnier is a prominent member of The Republicans, which is recognized as France’s primary conservative party. His selection is likely to provoke strong reactions from the New Popular Front, an alliance of left-wing parties that unexpectedly secured the most seats in the parliamentary elections held in July. Their candidate for the premiership, Lucie Castets, a relatively unknown civil servant, was swiftly overlooked by Mr. Macron, further deepening the political divide.