Michel Barnier, the former chief Brexit negotiator for the European Union, has been appointed as France’s new Prime Minister.
The announcement, made by the Élysée Palace on Thursday, September 5, 2024, marks the end of a two-month political stalemate following inconclusive parliamentary elections.
“The President of the Republic has appointed Michel Barnier as Prime Minister. He has to form a united government to serve the country and the French people,” read the statement from the Élysée Palace. The appointment follows “an unprecedented cycle of consultations” aimed at securing a stable government, the statement added.
Barnier, 73, is a seasoned politician with over 40 years of experience in both French and European politics. A member of the traditional right-wing Republicans party, Barnier is widely recognized for his role in mediating the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union between 2016 and 2021. He has held various ministerial positions in France, including those of foreign, agriculture, and environment ministers. Additionally, Barnier has served twice as a European Commissioner and was an adviser to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In 2021, Barnier announced his bid for the French presidency but failed to secure sufficient support within his party.
This appointment comes after President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation of former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and his government in July, following the defeat of his centrist Ensemble alliance in the second round of France’s snap parliamentary elections. Since then, Macron has faced increasing pressure from across the political spectrum to name a new Prime Minister. Last week, during a trip to Serbia, Macron told journalists he was “making all the necessary efforts” to finalize a name.
Barnier now faces the challenge of forming a government capable of uniting the fractured French political landscape. His appointment is seen as a strategic move by Macron to consolidate power and address the political impasse that has gripped France since the parliamentary elections.
