Macron appoints former chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as new French PM

French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed former chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as the new Prime Minister of France, the Elysee Palace said in a statement on Thursday.

Barnier’s appointment has finally put the political chaos in France to rest.

“This nomination comes after an unprecedented cycle of consultations, and in view of his constitutional duty, the president made sure that the prime minister and its government will have the most stable conditions possible and be able to unite more widely,” the Elysee Palace said in a written statement, according to Politico.

Barnier became the head of the Brexit task force in 2016.

Prior to that, he had served four times as a cabinet minister, as well as twice as a European commissioner, Politico reported.

It is pertinent to note that Barnier may be a known personality in Brussels, but is not known much at home in France. He is a conservative figure from the Les Republicains party.

Barnier will now begin the arduous task of forming a government that won’t be immediately collapsed by a deeply divided French legislature.

Snap elections held this summer resulted in a hung parliament in France, with the pan-left New Popular Front winning the most seats but falling short of an outright majority.

Macron rejected to select the alliance’s prime minister candidate, 37-year-old civil servant Lucie Castets, claiming she lacked the skills to rule effectively, reported Politico.

Barnier, notably emerged as the frontrunner on late Wednesday, just hours before his official nomination.