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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Lili Bayer

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

Michel Barnier Emmanuel Macron France JeanLuc Mélenchon Jordan Bardella Xavier Bertrand Brexit
Michel Barnier during a press conference in Brussels on 15 October 2020.
Michel Barnier during a press conference in Brussels on 15 October 2020. Photograph: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images

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.

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

The Socialist party said in a statement that Michel Barnier lacks political legitimacy.

Steve Baker, former UK Brexit minister and leader of the European Research Group said in response to news of Michel Barnier’s appointment as France’s prime minister:

“I would wish him well, he is certainly going to need it as he will have his hands full dealing with the government.”

“Michel Barnier is undoubtedly a very polished and authoritative and very consummate politician,” he said.

“I am sure he will step into the role with great skill and flair but whether that is a good thing for UK relations with French is another thing,” he added.

Updated

Yaël Braun-Pivet, the national assembly president, has asked for a session as soon as possible for Michel Barnier to speak.

As the former Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier is well known in the UK, not least among the Brexiters who were regularly reminded by the French man that there were no prizes for countries who left the European Union, an exclusive club with no borders for people, capital, services or imports or exports for members.

A courteous, but dry man, he led the complicated and legalistic challenge of trying to unravel 44 years of relations with the EU.

With the huge Brussels machine behind him and the backing of EU capitals, it was easy for him to stand firm on Brexit and to ruffle feathers in London without feeling repercussions at home.

Among his most frequent warnings to the UK, which at times resembled a political torture chamber, was that the “clock was ticking” for the UK, something that became his catchphrase

He mocked Theresa May’s Northern Ireland plans, confessed to being a “little bit flabbergasted” over the UK’s shifting positions, and said that Boris Johnson’s team behaved like “buccaneers” in talks.

But ultimately he revealed little of his own politics. The worst that was said about him was that he was “cocky” (The Sun newspaper) or lacked charisma.

It was not until he ran for president in France that his right wing views emerged, clashing with Emmanuel Macron declaring immigration was “out of control” in France, apparently abandoning his previous position on the centre-right.

But ultimately he still saw himself as the safe bet, the negotiator.

“France doesn’t need a third candidate who gets too close to the far-right of politics. It needs someone who pulls us together,” he said during the campaign.

Irish politician Simon Coveney has said he wishes Michel Barnier well.

“He has been asked to do a very difficult job but has the experience and ability to do it well,” he said.

“French leadership is so important to the future of the EU. Ireland now has a great friend as French Prime Minister,” he added.

Updated

National Rally won't take part in Barnier government, Le Pen says

The far right National Rally’s Marine Le Pen said her party will not be part of a new Michel Barnier government.

European centre-right politicians have expressed their enthusiasm for Michel Barnier.

Yaël Braun-Pivet, a Macron ally and president of the French National Assembly, also congratulated Barnier.

Manfred Weber, leader of the centre-right European People’s party, has congratulated Michel Barnier.

“A convinced European, a man of dialogue and experience, he clearly fulfils the qualities that France needs,” he said.

Édouard Philippe, a former prime minister, has congratulated Michel Barnier, writing that there will be many to help him.

Gabriel Attal has thanked the French people, as he leaves office.

The French Greens’ Marine Tondelier has also criticised Macron’s decision.

Michel Barnier, 73, is set to be France’s oldest prime minister.

He succeeds Gabriel Attal, the youngest, who is now 35.

The Socialist party’s Olivier Faure expressed concern about today’s decision.

“In all democracies in the world, it is the coalition that comes out on top that is called upon to form a government. Never the party that lost the election. Creating this precedent would be dramatic and dangerous for the institutions themselves,” he wrote.

The far right National Rally’s Marine Le Pen has stressed that the new head of government respect those who voted for her party.

Key event

Xavier Bertrand, whose name was floated earlier as a potential prime minister, sent his best wishes to Michel Barnier.

The far right National Rally’s Jordan Bardella said his party takes note of the nomination of Michel Barnier as prime minister.

“We will judge his general policy speech, his budgetary decisions and his actions on the evidence,” he said.

Mélenchon says election 'stolen'

France Unbowed’s Jean-Luc Mélenchon has reacted to Emmanuel Macron’s decision to name Michel Barnier as prime minister, arguing that the election has been “stolen” from the French people.

Updated

Michel Barnier named France's new prime minister

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has appointed former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister, after weeks of deadlock.

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