Michel Barnier Tipped for French Prime Minister Role
French President Emmanuel Macron is considering Michel Barnier, the former EU Brexit negotiator, for the position of prime minister following an inconclusive snap election. Barnier, a veteran politician born in La Tronche, has an extensive political background, including roles as EU regional policy commissioner and EU commissioner for internal market and services. He also co-organised the 1992 Winter Olympics and ran unsuccessfully for the conservative party's nomination in the 2022 presidential election.
Barnier's potential appointment comes amidst a period of political deadlock in France. The far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party, led by Marine Le Pen, and other political factions have shown varying degrees of support and opposition to Barnier's candidacy. The political landscape is fractured, with Macron needing to navigate between forming a government that can secure a parliamentary majority or relying on presidential approval to maintain power. If appointed, Barnier would be tasked with unifying a divided parliament and addressing the challenges posed by the lack of a clear political majority.
