Latest Michel Barnier News
France's new prime minister vows to curb debt as he faced baptism of fire at heckled parliament
PARIS (AP) — Lawmakers gave new French Prime Minister Michel Barnier a rough ride, heckling him constantly, as he laid out his proposed policies in an inaugural speech to parliament on Tuesday, a baptism of fire that highlighted how difficult governing will be for his minority government. ...
France's new premier postpones election in restive Pacific territory of New Caledonia
NICE, France (AP) — France's new Prime Minister Michel Barnier announced Tuesday that a provincial election scheduled for December in the restive French Pacific territory of New Caledonia have been postponed for a year. During his inaugural address to parliament, Barnier also said...
France's Le Pen denies wrongdoing as she and her party go on trial accused of embezzling EU funds
PARIS (AP) — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen denied violating any rules as she and her National Rally party and two dozen others went on trial on Monday, accused of embezzling European Parliament funds, in a case that has the potential to derail her political ambitions. Le...
France's new government pledges hardline stance on migration as it cozies up to far right
PARIS (AP) — France’s new government is set to take a hardline approach to migration issues as key officials have pledged to significantly reduce the number of people entering and staying illegally in the country. After calling for snap legislative elections in June, President...
France's new government meets for the first time to discuss budget and migrant issues
PARIS (AP) — France’s new government dominated by conservatives and centrists gathered for the first time Monday as Prime Minister Michel Barnier set budget and migrant issues as top priorities. Barnier convened a meeting early morning with newly appointed ministers ahead of a...
New center-right government in France announced 2 months after divisive elections
PARIS (AP) — The French presidential palace unveiled a long-awaited new government Saturday dominated by conservatives and centrists. It came more than two months after elections that produced a hung parliament and deepened political divisions as France grapples with growing financial and...
With a parade of athletes on Champs Elysées, France throws one last party for the Paris Olympics
PARIS (AP) — The curtain came down on Paris’ feel-good summer with a grand parade of French athletes on the Champs Elysées on Saturday after the country threw one last party to celebrate the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Parade of Champions included 460 Olympic and...
Protesters rally in France against Barnier’s appointment as prime minister
PARIS (AP) — Thousands of protesters took to the streets across France on Saturday, responding to a call from a far-left party leader who criticized as a “power grab” the president's appointment of a conservative new prime minister, Michel Barnier. The protests directly...
France's new prime minister twice voted against gay rights and critics won't let him forget it
PARIS (AP) — As soon as Michel Barnier was named France's new prime minister, critics found a skeleton in his closet. Back in 1981, the 30-year-old lawmaker joined more than 150 conservatives in the National Assembly to vote against a law decriminalizing young homosexuals. That...
Macron names EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister
PARIS (AP) — President Emmanuel Macron named Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister on Thursday, hoping the Brexit negotiator and veteran conservative can work with the country's bitterly divided legislature to end political turmoil that has roiled Macron's presidency. ...
