National Rally won’t participate in Barnier government, says Marine Le Pen – as it happened

Michel Barnier during a press conference in Brussels on 15 October 2020. Photograph: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images

2.45pm BST

Summary of the day

• Emmanuel Macron appointed the EU’s former Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, as prime minister of France.

• The French president said he had tasked Barnier with forming “a unifying government in the service of the country”.

• The far right National Rally’s Marine Le Pen said her party will not participate in a government led by Barnier. She also said the RN is waiting to see his policy.

• Left wing parties criticised Macron’s choice.

• The hard-left France Unbowed’s Jean-Luc Mélenchon said the election had been “stolen” from the French people.

• Senior European figures congratulated Barnier, who is well-known on the international stage.

2.27pm BST

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, has congratulated Barnier.

Félicitations à @MichelBarnier pour sa nomination au poste de Premier Ministre.

Je sais que Michel Barnier a les intérêts de l’Europe et de la France à coeur, comme le démontre sa longue expérience.

Je lui souhaite beaucoup de succès dans sa nouvelle mission.

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 5, 2024