Michel Barnier's appointment: Isabelle Négrier, DG of EuropaNova, explains on Franceinfo

Michel Barnier was appointed to Matignon on Thursday September 5. Michel Debré in 1959, Raymond Barre in 1976, Edith Cresson in 1991 - it had been several decades since a European profile had been appointed to Matignon. Minister Delegate for European Affairs, European Commissioner, Member of the European Parliament, European Commissioner for the Internal Market, European Special Advisor, and the European Union's Chief Negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier has been a regular contributor to EuropaNova's European public debates for 20 years. He was a guest at EuropaNova's Europe Week, held in March 2023 for 1,500 young people on 7 European campuses.

The “Barnier method” is above all one of listening and dialogue. Europe witnessed this during the Brexit. Close to civil society, which he has not hesitated to hear from on numerous occasions, the former Vice-President of the European Commission is used to dealing with complex, divisive situations. He is also committed to European youth, in particular through the ESCP Tribunes Association.

Accustomed to dealing with extremes, notably during negotiations with the British nationalists, the new Prime Minister has also worked with the European left, such as Antonio Vitorino, a close friend of Antonio Costa, the new President of the European Council.

French challenge echoes rising European nationalism

In Europe, 6 out of 27 countries have a government that has had to integrate the far right following the latest elections (Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Netherlands). In 5 countries, the far right won a majority of votes in the last European elections: France, Italy, Belgium, Hungary and Austria.

The countries that have had to deal with this new European trend rely on 3 distinct models:

- the Hungarian model, where the far right governs alone.

- the Italian model with a heterogeneous coalition.

- the Finnish, Slovakian and Dutch models, with very limited far-right participation.

The new Prime Minister seems to be moving towards a government of openness, but without unnatural compromises.