President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Michel Barnier, the EU’s former Brexit negotiator, as France’s new prime minister, following over 50 days of a caretaker government.
Macron’s decision comes after weeks of political deadlock triggered by the snap parliamentary elections. Barnier, a seasoned politician at 73, was chosen to form a new government in the hope of resolving the ongoing stalemate. He replaces Gabriel Attal, who served as prime minister for just eight months.
Macron’s strategy to call early elections in June did not yield the expected results; his centrist coalition lost significant ground, and no party secured an absolute majority. The left-wing alliance New Popular Front emerged as the largest group but was ruled out for government formation due to anticipated opposition from other parties.
The National Assembly is now dominated by Macron’s centrist faction and the far right, the two major groups aside from the New Popular Front.
