In picking Barnier, Macron has put his – and France’s – fate in Le Pen’s hands | Paul Taylor

After 50 days of deliberation, French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Michel Barnier as Prime Minister. This decision follows Macron's dissolution of the National Assembly and a subsequent snap election that left him in a weakened position. Barnier, a conservative Gaullist, is a former European Commissioner and Brexit negotiator. His appointment is seen as an attempt to stabilize the government, but it is uncertain whether it will succeed. The French public has grown impatient with Macron's indecisiveness, and his choice of Barnier is unlikely to appease them. The Fifth Republic, designed to ensure stable parliamentary majorities, has been undermined by Macron's actions. His decision to dissolve the assembly and call a snap election backfired, leaving him vulnerable and without a clear path forward.