France’s Macron names former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as new PM
Al Jazeera
President hopes his choice will end weeks of deadlock since snap election, counting on far right not to block appointment.
President Emmanuel Macron has named Michel Barnier, the European Union’s former Brexit negotiator, as France’s new prime minister after more than 50 days of a caretaker government.
Macron held talks with the 73-year-old veteran politician at the Elysee Palace on Thursday, tasking him with forming a new government in the hope of ending weeks of political deadlock in the country that followed snap parliamentary elections.
Barnier succeeds Gabriel Attal, 35, who served only eight months in office.
Macron’s gamble to call the snap parliamentary election in June backfired, with his centrist coalition losing dozens of seats and no party winning an absolute majority.
The left-wing alliance New Popular Front came first, but Macron ruled out asking them to form a government after other parties said they would immediately vote it down.
