After weeks of consultations and uncertainty due to the gaps opened between the political blocs of the new French Parliament, President Macron has appointed former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as prime minister, who has the mission of “forming a unifying Government” ahead of him.
The French president, Emmanuel Macronnamed this Thursday Michel Barnierformer EU Brexit negotiator, as new prime minister of France, after more than 50 days of interim Government.
In a statement, Macron’s office announced Barnier’s appointment, saying he has been tasked with “forming a unifying government to serve the country and the French people.
“This appointment comes after a unprecedented consultation cycle during which, in accordance with his constitutional duty, the president ensured that the prime minister and the future Government met the conditions for having the greatest possible stability and give yourself the opportunity to generate the broadest union possible“says the statement.
Weeks of consultations and negotiations
The appointment of Barnier, 73, comes after weeks of intense efforts by Macron and his advisors to find a candidate who could meet the sufficient support and survive a possible vote of no confidence in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament.
After the second round of the legislative elections on July 7almost two months ago, Parliament was divided into three large blocks: the leftist coalition New Popular Frontthe centrist group of President Macron and the far-right National Group.
The difficulties in forging agreements between these disparate blocks had delayed the appointment of the prime minister, who has the task of forming and directing a new government.
