The election is stolen.
This is the immediate reaction of far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon to Macron's election.
Mélenchon represents the left-wing alliance NFP, which became the largest in the summer's re-election. Therefore, the left must choose the head of government, according to NFP, even though the French constitution says that the president can appoint anyone.
Impossible equation
At the other end of the political spectrum, far-right leader Marine Le Pen is more positive - Barnier will be judged based on his policy, is the message, according to the AFP news agency.
The reactions are not unexpected since 73-year-old Barnier has a right-wing background. But they simultaneously reduce the prospects of the French government issue being resolved.
Macron has faced an seemingly impossible equation since his center party lost its majority in the election. NFP demands a prime minister from its side. But many in the rest of the political spectrum, including the far-right party RN, refuse to accept anyone from the left.
Low profile
However, cracks have appeared in the unity of the fragmented left, and apparently, Macron hopes to exploit them to scrape together enough votes for Barnier's government not to fall in the lower house, the National Assembly.
Barnier emerged relatively late among the top names, after many others had been put forward but rejected by various parties. He is best known to the outside world as the EU's negotiator for the UK's exit, Brexit. But after that, he has kept a low profile in recent years.
Michel Barnier, born on January 9, 1951, was the EU's chief negotiator for the UK's exit, Brexit, from 2016 to 2021. Prior to that, he was an EU commissioner twice: responsible for regional policy from 1999 to 2004 and for the internal market from 2010 to 2014.
Barnier grew up in Savoy in the French Alps and was, as a regional government leader, one of the main responsible for the organization of the Winter Olympic Games in Albertville in 1992.
In France, he has also been Minister of the Environment from 1993 to 1995, EU Minister from 1995 to 1997, Foreign Minister from 2004 to 2005, and Minister of Agriculture from 2007 to 2009.
After the Brexit job, Barnier made an attempt to challenge Macron for the presidency in 2022, but was eliminated in the primary election.
Michel Barnier is married and has three children.
