Can France’s New ‘No-Nonsense’ PM Michel Barnier Restore Order?

The appointment of Michel Barnier, the EU’s former Brexit negotiator, as France’s new PM will be seen as a desperate attempt by France’s Macron to bring a much-needed degree of stability to his remaining term as president. His appointment is seen as a belated attempt by Macron to head off the mounting challenge his government faces from Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally The 73-year-old Barnier, who came to prominence over the uncompromising stance he adopted with the UK during the Brexit negotiations, is a prominent figure in France’s main conservative party, the Republicans. Announcing the appointment, Macron said he…