Paris (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier named as new French prime minister.
French President Emmanuel Macron has designated Michel Barnier, the European Union’s former Brexit negotiator, as prime minister in a proposal to end a political stalemate that has embroiled the nation since early July. Macron charged Barnier with creating a government on Thursday, according to an announcement shared by the Elysee Palace.
What challenges await Barnier in the National Assembly?
The nomination comes after weeks of growing pressure from all political groups to appoint a candidate. Barnier will now have to endure a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, France’s lower house of the parliament. The current National Assembly is split into three blocs: the left-wing coalition NFP (that succeeded in the most seats but fell short of an absolute majority), Macron’s centrist party and the far-right National Rally.
Barnier is no alien to domestic French leadership and has previously performed in four cabinet positions, including as minister of the environment, minister of state for European Affairs, minister of foreign affairs and minister of agriculture and fisheries.
How has the National Rally responded to Barnier’s appointment?
National Rally’s Jordan Bardella responded to the news out of the Élysée by stating that the party “acknowledged” Barnier’s position after a wait “unworthy of a great democracy”. “We will ask for the significant emergencies of the French people (such as) purchasing power, security and immigration, to eventually be addressed, and we reserve all political norms of action if this is not the case in the coming weeks,” the far-right party’s president stated.
Why is the NFP coalition critical of Barnier’s selection?
NFP coalition’s Greens said that, by selecting Barnier, Macron went against the voters by letting the National Rally “to be the arbiter … and has shifted his back on the millions of voters who, in the ballot box, made a historic republican storm in France.” “Obsessed with keeping his neoliberal record and his decision not to see the pension reform abolished, Emmanuel Macron has ignored the New Popular Front, opting instead to align himself with the radicalised right,” the Greens expressed.
The Communist party also responded negatively to the news of Barnier’s appointment, saying in a comment that he was “the right wing’s choice to persist the President’s policies.” “Right up to the end, the President used every means at his disposal to circumvent the results of the ballot box,” party representative Fabien Roussel expressed.
