After rising to prominence as the European Union's Brexit negotiator, one of the most complicated issues facing Brussels in recent years, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier now faces an equally daunting task: governing a country deeply divided politically.
President Emmanuel Macron named Barnier as his prime minister yesterday, ending a weeks-long search after his decision to call snap parliamentary elections that left a dysfunctional parliament without a clear majority.
It was a choice in which he was not allowed to make a mistake, given the increasingly loud questions about whether he will be able to complete his second and last mandate until 2027, the Reuters agency points out.
At the age of 73, Barnije is the oldest prime minister in the modern political history of France, and he takes over from Gabriel Atal, who was the youngest.
This seasoned conservative politician, who showed his skills during the Brexit negotiations with Britain, faces difficult tasks, including presenting a budget bill with painful austerity measures to a deeply divided parliament.
His election, however, apparently pleased investors, as government borrowing costs fell slightly and the euro strengthened.
The appointment also resonated positively in Brussels, and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen sent him congratulations. "I know that Michel Barnier has the interests of Europe and France at heart, which is shown by his many years of experience. I wish him much success in his new mission," the message states.
Barnier's appointment reflects Macron's view that the election produced a parliament that leans toward the center-right, although a left-wing alliance, hastily put together to prevent the far-right from coming to power, won the most votes. The left called this appointment a "democratic coup" and announced protests in the streets.
"The elections were stolen from the French people," said far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, calling for protests on Saturday.
Crucially, however, Barnier secured the support of Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) party, albeit with certain conditions, meaning the new prime minister is likely to come under pressure from all sides.
"We will advocate that the main urgent situations for the French are finally resolved - the crisis of the cost of living, security, immigration - and we reserve the right to all political actions if this does not happen in the coming weeks," one of the leaders of the RN announced on the X network, Jordan Bardella.
Barnier is a strongly pro-European and moderate career politician, although he significantly toughened his discourse during his conservative party's failed 2021 presidential bid, arguing that immigration was out of control.
Born in 1951 near the French Alpine city of Grenoble, Barnier became a member of parliament at the age of 27 and later held senior positions in several French governments, including foreign affairs minister and agriculture minister.
He has also held prominent positions in the EU, including Commissioner for Regional Policy and Commissioner for the Internal Market.
During the Brexit negotiations, he became hated within Britain's anti-European camp, which portrayed him as the epitome of Brussels' obsession with rules. The veteran of the British campaign for Brexit, Nigel Farage, commented on yesterday's news about his appointment as prime minister, calling Barnier an "EU fanatic".
After Brexit, Barnier turned his attention to French politics.
His political views are largely similar to Macron's, and it was crucial for the French president that his new prime minister did not try to reverse reforms implemented in previous years, particularly changes to the pension system that had angered the left.
Relations between Barnier and Macron will be under scrutiny. Macron's associates emphasize that the president wanted a prime minister who at least seemed to act as his rival.
Some commentators are skeptical that Barnije will offer significant resistance to the president. Communist Party spokesman Ian Brosa said on BFM TV that Barnije is just "a slightly older and taller version of Macron".
Barnier may find himself in a situation where he has to deviate from some of his earlier positions, adds Reuters. In an interview earlier this year, Barnier said only "political opportunism" prevented Le Pen from backing Brexit more loudly, adding that there must be no "complacency or weakness" towards the "anti-European theses" of the far right: "Never, never, never." , he said.
At the same time, he was clear about Macron's political future, saying in an interview with "Figaro" in 2022 that "Macronism ... will disappear in 2027."
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