France May finally have a new prime minister French president Emanuel macron appointed Michel barer the European Union's former brexit negotiator to the role on Thursday hoping to end the country's political paralysis after an inconclusive snap election in June left his Centrist Coalition losing dozens of seats and no party winning an absolute majority a string of potential prime ministers have been considered in recent weeks but none mustered enough support to guarantee a stable government which was macron's key criteria as the hunt dragged on public finances deteriorated and now time is running out to prepare France's 2025 budget barer will quickly face this particular baptism of fire and if parties in the bitterly divided parliament are not satisfied with the budget a vote of no confidence could be triggered at 73 barer will be the oldest prime minister in France's modern political history taking over from Gabriel atal who was the youngest a staunch pro-european and a moderate career politician he first became a lawmaker aged 27 barer held roles in several French governments including foreign minister and agricultural Minister but is best known abroad for having led the eu's talks with Britain over its exit from the block from 2016 to 2021 leaders of the far-right national rally parliament's biggest single party signaled on Thursday that the party would not immediately block barer but could do so later if their demands were not met the leftwing alliance that one June's election accused macron of ignoring the snap election result by picking a conservative a called for demonstrations against barer selection but does not have enough seats to block the choice on its own