President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Michel Barnier, the former European Union Brexit negotiator, as France’s new Prime Minister following over fifty days with only a caretaker government. Macron met with the seasoned politician at the Elysee Palace on Thursday, charging him with the task of forming a new government aimed at resolving the political stalemate that ensued after snap parliamentary elections.
Macron’s decision to call these snap elections in June did not go as planned, resulting in his centrist coalition losing many seats and leaving no party with an absolute majority. The left-wing alliance, New Popular Front, secured the most seats, yet Macron opted not to invite them to form a government after facing opposition from other parties who threatened to reject such a move immediately.
Now, Barnier, a member of the right-leaning Republicans party and largely absent from French politics since his unsuccessful bid for his party’s presidential nomination in 2022, faces the formidable task of navigating reforms and the 2025 budget through a hung parliament. This comes at a time when France faces significant fiscal scrutiny from the European Commission and bond markets.
Speaking from the Matignon, the official residence of the Prime Minister, the 73-year-old Barnier emphasized his government’s focus would be on addressing the widespread disenchantment and feelings of neglect across French urban, suburban, and rural areas. He is the oldest to take up the post in modern French history, succeeding Gabriel Attal, the youngest.
Barnier vowed to engage with all political factions, prioritizing health care, security, employment, and debt reduction. “The French have voiced their demands for respect, unity, and tranquility,” he stated during his inaugural speech alongside Attal.
The appointment marks the culmination of weeks of intense negotiation by Macron and his team to find a suitable candidate who could gather support in parliament and counteract the president’s adversaries’ potential blockades.
Macron hopes the far-right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, will not obstruct Barnier’s appointment. However, Laurent Jacobelli, a lawmaker from the National Rally, suggested that their support might hinge on the condition that parliament is dissolved by early July next year.
Meanwhile, Jordan Bardella, head of the National Rally and leader of the largest single party in parliament, has demanded that the far-right’s concerns be addressed, hinting at potential political actions if their demands are not met soon.
On the left, Jean-Luc Melenchon reacted sharply to Macron’s choice, alleging the election results were “stolen from the French” and calling for street protests. Another left-wing lawmaker, Mathilde Panot, described Barnier’s appointment as an “unacceptable democratic coup.”
