Macron's Dilemma: Finding the Right Prime Minister amidst Political Turmoil

French President Emmanuel Macron is considering former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as a potential prime minister. Despite internal discussions, support for Barnier remains uncertain. Far-right RN might support him if certain conditions are met, especially on immigration and dissolving parliament. Barnier's pro-European stance complicates his candidacy.

French President Emmanuel Macron faces a challenging decision as he considers Michel Barnier, the former EU Brexit negotiator, for the role of prime minister. As of now, Macron has yet to make an official appointment two months following a snap election.

A source close to Barnier confirmed ongoing discussions with the president's team but offered no further details. Macron has evaluated several candidates for the position in recent weeks, all failing to secure the necessary support for a stable government. This uncertainty extends to Barnier as well as Macron ally Francois Bayrou, another potential candidate.

The far-right National Rally (RN), now one of the largest parties in parliament, indicated they might not immediately oppose Barnier or Bayrou, given certain conditions. These include commitments on immigration policies and the dissolution of parliament by early next year to establish proportional representation. Despite these conditional assurances, RN's enthusiasm for Barnier remains lukewarm.

(With inputs from agencies.)