France names former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier prime minister
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The news: French President Emmanuel Macron named Michel Barnier, the EU's former Brexit negotiator, as prime minister, tasking the 73-year-old with unifying the country following the political gridlock that arose from an inconclusive snap election.
The context: Macron took two months to finalise the appointment after other potential candidates failed to secure support, following a snap election that weakened his centrist alliance and left no clear majority.
Barnier, from conservative party Les Républicains, is now tasked with forming a unity government and pushing through reforms, including the 2025 budget.
Opposition from the left-wing New Popular Front, which won the most seats in the National Assembly elections but without a clear majority, and the far-right National Rally's growing influence, complicates that task.
Hard-left leaders called for protests on the weekend, while the far-right National Rally (RN) signalled conditional support for Barnier.
What they said: Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon claimed "the election was stolen from the French people," while fellow leftist Mathilde Panot called it "an unacceptable democratic coup."
"Fifty-two days after the government was defeated at the polls, Macron continues to see himself as an autocrat. By appointing Michel Barnier, the president refuses to respect popular sovereignty and the choice made at the ballot box. Against this unacceptable democratic coup in a democracy, join us on the streets on 7 September," Panot said.
On the far-right, National Rally (RN) leader Jordan Bardella warned that if issues like "the cost of living, security, [and] immigration" weren't addressed, they would use "all political means of action."
The sources: Reuters, The Financial Times
