Former European commissioner Michel Barnier named as French prime minister
French president Emmanuel Macron has appointed former minister and European commissioner Michel Barnier as the country’s new prime minister.
The Elysée Palace announced the appointment on Thursday, 60 days after the second round of parliamentary elections.
Barnier, 73, the oldest prime minister of the Fifth Republic, takes over from Gabriel Attal, who at 35 was the youngest. He now faces the task of forming a government that could survive a vote of no confidence from parliament to end France’s political deadlock.
Barnier was the EU's chief negotiator during Britain's departure from the union
French president Emmanuel Macron and chief negotiator Michel Barnier prior to a meeting at the Elysée Palace in Paris, January 2020, ahead of Britain's departure from the EU © PHOTO LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP
Related news
