Michel Barnier

Emmanuel Macron puts an end to the political thriller appointing Michel Barnier as prime minister of Franceafter many days of fruitless consultations.

Emmanuel Macron asked Michel Barnier to “form a unity government that will serve the country and the French people”. According to the Elysee, the French president ensured that the next government “meets the conditions to be as stable as possible”.

“This appointment comes after an unprecedented round of consultations during which, in accordance with his constitutional duty, the president ensured that the prime minister and the future government will qualify to be as stable as possible and to give themselves the chance to unite as widely as possible“, the statement said.

The President of the Republic has appointed Mr. Michel BARNIER as Prime Minister. He has tasked him with forming a unifying government to serve the country and the French people. pic.twitter.com/beWhuEh42L

— Elysee (@Elysee) September 5, 2024

A large portion of the French, probably, hears the name of Michel Barnier for the first time, or at best something reminds them of him. Macron’s move may be aimed at ending weeks of political gridlock, but the media insists that Barnier is a person unknown to France and the French.

A key question arising after the name was announced is whether Barnier’s government will be able to get the reforms through a deeply divided parliament.

The discreet, conservative politician will quickly face his baptism of fireas time runs out to prepare France’s 2025 budget, which could trigger a vote of confidence if other parties are not satisfied.

THE “compatriot of Macron”Michel Barnier, is less likely to face a vote of no confidence in parliament. He is “compatible with Macron” and will not be immediately voted down by parliament, an adviser to the president told AFP news agency, asking not to be named.

A minister in the outgoing government, who also asked not to be named, added that Barnier was “very popular with right-wing members of parliament without being annoying to the left”.

Who is Michel Barnier?

At 73, Michel Barnier he will be the oldest prime minister in France’s modern political history, succeeding Gabriel Attal, who was the youngest.

He is best known abroad for leading the European Union’s Brexit talks with Britain in 2016.

Michel Barnier was born on January 9, 1951 in La Tronche, a suburb of the French city of Grenoble in the Alps.

In 1978 he was elected to parliament, representing the Gaulish, centre-right Savoie region.

In 1992 he was a co-organizer of the Winter Olympics held in his constituency of Albertville, which is still central to his public image.

From 1993 to 1995 he was the Minister of the Environment and the following two years he was the Minister of Europe of France. From 1999 to 2004 he was the EU’s regional policy commissioner, responsible for grants and subsidies that account for a third of the Union’s budget.

It still was Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Agriculture and in 2009 EU Legislator.

The following year and for a four-year term he was EU commissioner for the internal market and services. He negotiated extensive new regulation of financial markets after the global crash, including reforms that were unpopular in the City of London.

In 2016 appointed EU Brexit negotiator after Britain’s referendum to leave the Union.

In 2021 he failed in his attempt to get his conservative party’s nomination for the 2022 presidential election.

As France 24 reports, Michel Barnier is a staunch pro-European and moderate career politician, but hardened his speech significantly during his failed 2021 bid to get his conservative party’s presidential ticketsaying that immigration is out of control – a view shared by the far-right National Alarm (RN).

Photo Credits: EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

Barnier’s political views are generally quite close to those of Macron and it was crucial for the French president that his new prime minister would not try to undo the reforms pushed through in recent years, notably the pension reform.

It remains unclear whether Barnier will try to fully implement Macron’s political agenda or bring new proposals. In any case he will need to negotiate with other parties to get the legislation passed in parliament.

The first reactions

OR Marine Le Pen she was positioned, giving the line to her party’s MPs in terms of communication management.

“Sixty days after the second round of parliamentary elections, Michel Barnier was appointed prime minister. As we announced to the President of the Republic, we will demand that the new head of government respect the 11 million French people who voted for the Rassemblement National, respect them and their ideas.

Sixty days after the second round of the legislative elections, Michel Barnier is appointed Prime Minister. As we announced to the President of the Republic, we will demand that the new head of government respect the 11 million French people who voted for the…

— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) September 5, 2024

We will pay close attention to the plan he proposes and ensure that the expectations of our voters, who represent a third of the French population, are heard and respected.”

Followed by Jordan Bardelathe leader of the far-right National Alarm, wrote: “After an endless wait, unworthy of a great democracy, we have the appointment of Michel Barnier as Emmanuel Macron’s prime minister.

After an interminable wait, unworthy of a great democracy, we take note of the appointment of Michel Barnier as Prime Minister of Emmanuel Macron.

The 11 million voters of the National Rally deserve respect: that is our primary demand.

We…

— Jordan Bardella (@J_Bardella) September 5, 2024

The 11 million voters of the Rassemblement National deserve respect: this is our first demand.

We will judge his general policy speech, his fiscal decisions and his actions based on the evidence. We will plead for the major pressing issues facing the French to be finally addressed – purchasing power, security and immigration – and reserve all political means of action if this does not happen in the coming weeks.”

RN MP Sebastien Senou told BFM television that the far-right party will wait to see what Barnier has to say on immigration and changing France’s voting system.

The party favors proportional representation to replace the French system of two-round voting for single constituencies.

Lawmaker Laurent Jacobelli, also from the RN, said a condition for his support is that parliament be dissolved as soon as possible – which would be in early July.

«They are pulling out of mothballs those who ruled France for 40 yearsJacobelli told TF1.

Michel Barnier appointed Prime Minister: “The election was stolen from the French people”, reacts Jean-Luc Mélenchon pic.twitter.com/JBzOgf9Gz1

— BFMTV (@BFMTV) September 5, 2024

On the opposite bank, Jean-Luc Mélenchonleader of France’s left-wing “France Insubordinate” party, spoke of a “stolen” election and called for street demonstrations on September 7.

H Marine Todelier of the French Greens also criticized Macron’s decision. “Michel Barnier’s appointment to Matignon: who are we kidding? That too,” he wrote to X.

With information from Reuters and France 24.