French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Michel Barnier, a leading figure on the right wing and former European Union (EU) Brexit Chief Negotiator, as Prime Minister following a long-standing political crisis in the country.
The Elysee Palace emphasized that Barnier was chosen after a long consultation process with various political parties and that the aim was to form the new government with the broadest support in order to ensure stability.
After the far-right National Rally Party failed to achieve great success in the European Parliament elections in France, President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly and called early elections. Although the leftist New Popular Front alliance came first in the elections, no party was able to gain a majority in the parliament.