Michel Barnier

Michel Jean Barnier (French: [miʃɛl baʁnje] ; born 9 January 1951) is a French politician who has served as Prime Minister of France since 5 September 2024.

A member of a series of Gaullist parties (UDR, RPR, UMP, LR), Barnier has served in several French cabinet positions, including as Minister of the Environment from 1993 to 1995, Minister Delegate for European Affairs from 1995 to 1997, Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2005, and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries from 2007 to 2009. At the European Union (EU) level, Barnier was European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services from 2010 to 2014 and vice-president of the European People's Party (EPP) from 2010 to 2015. From October 2016 to 2021, he was the EU's chief negotiator on Britain's exit from the European Union.

In August 2021, Barnier sought his party's nomination for President of France in the 2022 presidential election, but obtained third place at the 2021 The Republicans congress. In September 2024, he was appointed to the prime ministership by President Emmanuel Macron following the 2024 snap legislative election. He is the oldest person to take office as prime minister under the Fifth Republic.

Barnier is a pro-European, Gaullist conservative. He has advocated for stricter controls on extra-European immigration, expanding prison capacity and the introduction of mandatory minimum sentences for certain crimes.