French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Michel Barnier, the European Union's former Brexit negotiator, as his new prime minister, after weeks of drawn out talks following an inconclusive snap election.
Mr Barnier, 73, led the EU's talks with Britain over its exit from the bloc from 2016-2021.
Prior to that, the conservative politician held roles in various French governments and was also EU Commissioner.
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Three years ago Mr Barnier said he wanted to take on President Macron for the French presidency, saying he wanted to limit and take control of immigration. He eventually failed to be the selected as a candidate by his party.
ReplyDeletefar-right National Rally (RN), whose party is one of the biggest in parliament after the early July election, signalled earlier on Thursday it would not immediately reject Mr Barnier, if he met certain conditions.
ReplyDeleteMr Barnier had been given the task of forming a unifying government "in the service of the country and the French people", the presidency stressed.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Mr Macron's choice of prime minister has already caused discontent within the the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP), which won the most seats in the July snap election and whose own candidate for prime minister was rejected by the president.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the radical France Unbowed (LFI) - the biggest of the four parties that make up NFP - reacted angrily. The election had been "stolen from the French people", he claimed.
Die französische Linke hat ihre Absicht angekündigt, ein Misstrauensvotum gegen Michel Barnier zu stellen, der am Donnerstag zum Premierminister ernannt wurde.
ReplyDeleteDie Linke hat nach den Wahlergebnissen die meisten Sitze im Parlament - 182 von 577 Sitzen.