Macron Appoints Former EU Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier as Prime Minister

French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Michel Barnier, the EU's former Brexit negotiator, as the new prime minister following an inconclusive snap election. Barnier, known for his extensive experience in EU politics and various ministerial roles in France, aims to address the country's political paralysis.

French President Emmanuel Macron has named Michel Barnier, the European Union's former Brexit negotiator, as his new prime minister. The appointment comes in the wake of an inconclusive snap election that left the country in political deadlock.

Barnier, born in 1951 in La Tronche, a suburb of Grenoble, began his political career at the age of 27, representing the Gaullist centre-right Savoie district in parliament. Over the decades, he has held several key positions, including co-organizer of the 1992 Winter Olympics, Environment Minister, Europe Minister, and Foreign Minister. He has also served as an EU Regional Policy Commissioner and was responsible for a third of the Union's budget in grants and subsidies.

Most recently, Barnier was the EU Commissioner for Internal Market and Services before being named the Brexit negotiator in 2016. Despite failing to secure the conservative party's nomination for the 2022 presidential election, Barnier remains a seasoned political figure, now tasked with resolving France's political impasse.

(With inputs from agencies.)