Macron appoints France's new prime minister

French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed former Foreign Minister and former European Union (EU) Brexit Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier from the center-right as prime minister, refusing to appoint a joint candidate from the left following early elections won by the leftist New Popular Front (NFP) alliance.

A statement from the Elysee Palace reported that Macron tasked Michel Barnier with "forming a unifying government to serve the French people."

The statement noted that Barnier's appointment as prime minister was made following a series of consultations conducted by Macron in accordance with his constitutional responsibilities to find a prime minister and government that is "as stable as possible" and "has a chance to secure a majority."

The 73-year-old Barnier, who comes from the center-right republican tradition, has previously served in various cabinets. Barnier, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2005, worked as the European Union's (EU) Brexit Chief Negotiator from 2016 to 2021.

- Harsh reaction from the left-wing alliance to Macron

The leftist NFP alliance, which won the most seats in the National Assembly in France's early general elections, reacted to Macron's appointment of Michel Barnier from the center-right instead of the left's joint candidate as prime minister.

Jean-Luc Melenchon, founder of France Unbowed (LFI), the largest party in the leftist NFP alliance, and a former presidential candidate, stated in a video shared on his X account that by appointing Barnier as prime minister, Macron had "rejected the results of the early general elections he called on his own initiative."

Arguing that the elections were stolen, Melenchon called on the French people to mobilize in the "strongest possible way against Macron's attack on popular sovereignty."

- Call to take to the streets on September 7

Mathilde Panot, head of the LFI parliamentary group, expressed in a post on her X account that Macron "refuses to respect popular sovereignty and the choices made at the ballot box." Panot called on the French people to take to the streets on September 7.

Olivier Faure, General Secretary of the Socialist Party (PS), the second-largest party in the NFP alliance, also accused Macron of "denying democracy." Faure criticized Macron for appointing a prime minister from a party that finished fourth in the elections.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, in a statement to the LCI channel, announced that they would not be part of a Michel Barnier government. The leader of the far-right National Rally (RN), Le Pen, said of Barnier, "He does not reflect our ideas."

- The election and prime ministerial appointment process in France

Macron appointed the prime minister 2 months after the early general elections held on June 30 and July 7.

In the elections where the leftist NFP won the most seats, no party or alliance reached the absolute majority of 289 deputies, and the elections resulted in the most fragmented parliamentary landscape in French history.

Macron had stated that he would not appoint a new prime minister during the 2024 Paris Olympics, which his country hosted, and had asked the government of Gabriel Attal, which had submitted its resignation, to remain in office for a while longer.

Macron, who began negotiations on August 23 after suspending them during the Olympic Games, refused to appoint Lucie Castets, the joint prime ministerial candidate of the winning leftist alliance, and announced that he would continue negotiations.

Following the early general elections in France, the NFP and its affiliates form the largest political group in the National Assembly with 193 deputies, followed by Macron's ruling coalition with 166 deputies and the far-right RN and its partners with 142 deputies.

According to the French Constitution, the president has the authority to appoint whomever they wish as prime minister, but according to political tradition, the prime minister is chosen from the party or alliance that receives the most votes.