[Applause] in a bid to resolve France's prolonged political deadlock president Emanuel macron has appointed Michelle barnier the European Union's former brexit negotiator as the new prime minister the El Palace announced the decision on Thursday tasking barnier with forming a government after weeks of political gridlock the 73-year-old conservative must now navigate a crucial no confidence vote in the National Assembly before officially assuming office his appointment comes amid a hung Parliament triggered by the surprising victory of the left-wing new popular front coalition in the July 7th runoff elections the failure of any party to secure the 289 seat majority plunged the nation into uncertainty leaving it under a caretaker government macron formerly accepted the resignation of his previous prime minister Gabriel atal on July 16th following the divisive electoral results barer no stranger to French politics has held several ministerial positions in the past including environment Agriculture and Foreign Affairs portfolios he was also the eu's chief negotiator during brexit talks which earned him widespread recognition ourn leader Jordan bardel put a highlight on Bar's qualifications stating on X that we will judge his General policy speech his budgetary decisions and his actions on the evidence we will plead for the major emergencies of the French purchasing power security immigration to finally be addressed and we reserve all political means of action if this is not the case in the coming weeks however Marine Le Pen a high-profile RN figure ruled out her party's participation in Bar's government saying we will not participate in a Michelle barnier government today we are in the situation that we had announced that of chaos on the left Jean Luke melanon leader of the new popular front criticized Bar's nomination saying that Michelle barnier has already stolen an election barer often dubbed missure brexit for his role in negotiations with the UK from 2016 to 2019 sought to challenge president macron in the 2022 presidential election his platform focused on Curbing immigration but he was ultimately not selected as his Party's candidate barier will be the oldest prime minister in France since the establishment of the fifth Republic in 1958 he takes over from Gabriel atal France's youngest ever prime minister who had been serving as caretaker since July following his appointment by President macron earlier in 2024 e