Wall Street Journal

New York Times

French Pres. Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier of the conservative Les Républicains party on Thursday to replace Gabriel Attal as prime minister in an attempt to break the longest political deadlock in the history of the country's Fifth Republic.

France 24

Aged 73, Barnier is a veteran politician who served as French foreign minister, European commissioner in Brussels and EU Brexit negotiator during his half-century political career.

BBC News

Economist

Reuters

The oldest premier in the history of modern France will now have to form a government that can survive no-confidence votes in the three-way hung National Assembly. If successful, his next challenge will be to submit a draft budget by Oct. 1.

POLITICO

Guardian

Given that the leftist New Popular Front coalition — the largest grouping in the lower house — has announced its support to motions against Barnier, Marine Le Pen's right-wing National Rally has emerged as the kingmaker.

According to a government official who spoke to POLITICO on condition of anonymity, Macron met with Le Pen on Tuesday to discuss the names of center-right Xavier Bertrand and former Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.

The European Conservative

Wall Street Journal #

New York Times #1183

BBC News #

Guardian #3341

Economist #572

Reuters #

Le Monde.fr

Michel Barnier, a man of consensus as prime minister

Spectator (UK)

Spectator (UK) #4225

Michel Barnier is France’s new PM. It’s hard to think of a worse job

Peoplesdispatch

Macron Faces Protest Over Appointment Of Right Wing Pm

There's a 38% chance that French president Emmanuel Macron will call another snap legislative election before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Videos

Apps

France: Macron Names Michel Barnier as New Prime Minister

France: Macron Names Michel Barnier as New Prime Minister

The Facts

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

Sign up to our daily newsletter