BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – MARCH 5: EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier speaks during a meeting after the first round of UK-EU negotiations in Brussels, Belgium, on March 5, 2020 .
Anadolu Agency
French President Emmanuel Macron appointed former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as prime minister in a bid to break the political deadlock that has engulfed France since early July.
Macron on Thursday accused Barnier of forming a government, according to an announcement shared by the Elysee Palace.
The 73-year-old conservative must now face a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons before taking office.
The announcement hopes to end weeks of political deadlock and resolve a hung parliament that emerged after the five-party left-wing New Popular Front alliance unexpectedly won a July 7 runoff. Second, the far-right National Alliance ranked third.
No faction secured the 289 seats needed for an outright majority, leaving France under a caretaker government during a highly media-focused summer when the country hosted the well-attended Olympics.
Macron accepted the resignation of former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on July 16 after the election results were announced.
Barnier is no stranger to France’s domestic leadership, having previously held four cabinet posts, including environment minister, state minister for European affairs, foreign minister and agriculture and fisheries minister.
This breaking news story is being updated.
—CNBC’s Charlotte Reed contributed to this report.
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