Former EU commissioner Barnier named as new French prime minister
French President Emmanuel Macron has named former EU commissioner and Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as the country’s next prime minister, the Élysée Palace announced on Thursday.
The appointment comes some two months after a snap parliamentary election called by Mr Macron, which resulted in a broad left-wing alliance coming out on top.
But no party or political alliance secured enough seats in the National Assembly, resulting in a hung parliament and weeks of political uncertainty.
It remains to be seen whether Mr Barnier will be able to form a government with a working majority.
The 73-year-old Mr Barnier has a decades-long political career and is influential in France’s centre-right Republican party.
He was environment minister under François Mitterrand, foreign minister under Jacques Chirac and agriculture minister under Nicolas Sarkozy.
He has worked several times as an EU commissioner.
He also served as the European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator.
(dpa/NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Katsina govt begins statewide 2027 budget consultations
The governor said the consultations would be held simultaneously across all 361 political wards in the state’s 34 local government areas.
Economy
CIBN projects 26.5% monetary policy rate retention
Mr Alabi said the expectation was based on the CBN’s inflation-targeting monetary policy framework and recent economic developments.
Hot news Home top
Police nab fake pastor, accomplice for allegedly stealing newborn baby in Niger
The suspect lured a nursing mother and her 4-week-old baby to the Kasuwan-Gwari Area.
Heading 4
Poor leadership, corruption affecting Nigeria’s power sector, says ex-TCN boss
He advocated the appointment of competent professionals based on merit rather than political considerations.
Heading 5
Several injured as 18-seater bus rams into market in Kwara
The injured were taken to a nearby hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Agriculture
Stakeholders seek plant-based protein policies to boost food security
She said plant-based proteins were critical to building sustainable food systems.
