France’s new PM Michel Barnier tackles challenge of forming a unifying cabinet

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France’s new Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Friday got to work on the challenge of forming a cabinet of ministers capable of gaining majority support in parliament. The former EU Brexit negotiator was reported to be meeting with President Emmanuel Macron and members of his centrist party and as well as his own right-wing party as critics from the left accused the president of appointing a premier "in cohabitation" with the far-right National Rally party despite the results of July's snap polls.

France's new right-wing prime minister Friday sought to cobble together a government capable of mustering parliament backing, as critics lambasted the president for turning the far right into a kingmaker after snap polls.

Michel Barnier, a 73-year-old former foreign minister who recently acted as the European Union's Brexit negotiator, is the oldest premier in the history of modern France.

Consultations were going "very well" and were "full of energy", the veteran conservative politician told the press around midday before lunch with President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron took the risk of dissolving parliament in June after the far right trounced his alliance in European elections.

But the results saw Macron's centrist alliance lose its relative majority in the lower-house National Assembly.


Read more on FRANCE 24 English

Read also:
New PM Barnier vows to address 'anger and grievances' of French
The long political career of France's new prime minister, Michel Barnier
EU's Barnier says he plans to 'serve France' after negotiating Brexit

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