Michel Barnier named as new prime minister of France

Macron tasks former EU Brexit negotiator with forming a unifying government after months of political paralysis Europe live – latest updates Emmanuel Macron has appointed the EU’s former Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, as prime minister of France, as he seeks to put an end to two months of political paralysis after a snap election. The French president said he had tasked Barnier with forming “a unifying government in the service of the country”.