French President Emmanuel Macron appointed former minister and right-wing ex-European Commissioner Michel Barnier, 73, as Prime Minister on Thursday, the Élysée announced, 60 days after the second round of legislative elections which resulted in a National Assembly without a majority.
Since Wednesday, politicians and the media in France have raised hopes that a new head of government would soon be announced to succeed Gabriel Attal, following the July elections that produced a hung parliament.
Former conservative minister Xavier Bertrand and former socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve were initially seen as the frontrunners.
Born on January 9, 1951, in La Tronche (Isère), Barnier is a key figure in French and European politics. A former minister under several governments and the chief Brexit negotiator for the European Union, he has established himself over the years as a seasoned diplomat.
His political journey began in the 1970s when he joined the ranks of the RPR (Rally for the Republic) under the leadership of Jacques Chirac. Elected as a deputy for Savoie at the age of 27, he quickly made a name for himself with his commitment to environmental issues, a theme that was not popular within the French right at the time. He first assumed a ministerial post in 1993, becoming Environment Minister under Édouard Balladur.
Brexit Negotiator
Barnier then held various high-level positions both in Paris and Brussels. He was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs under Jacques Chirac in 2004 and served as European Commissioner for the Internal Market from 2010 to 2014.
However, it was his role as the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator that cemented his reputation. From 2016 to 2020, Barnier led the talks with the United Kingdom, skillfully balancing firmness and diplomacy to defend the interests of the EU’s 27 member states. He earned the respect of numerous European and British leaders during this period.
A failed candidate for the right-wing presidential nomination in 2022, Michel Barnier remains an influential voice on European issues. His style, both rigorous and conciliatory, and his expertise in handling complex matters have made him a respected figure well beyond France’s borders.
At 73, he becomes the oldest Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic, succeeding Gabriel Attal, 35, who was the youngest. Barnier now faces the challenge of forming a government capable of surviving a parliamentary vote of no confidence, in a bid to resolve the most severe political crisis of the Fifth Republic.
