Michel Barnier Vows Unity and Respect After Political Upheaval in France

Newly appointed French Prime Minister Michel Barnier pledged to foster respect and unity in a politically divided country. Speaking alongside his predecessor, Gabriel Attal, Barnier responded to the public's call for cohesion, a sentiment echoed after an inconclusive snap election led to political paralysis.

Newly appointed French Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Thursday vowed to work with "all those in good faith" to bring more respect and unity to a politically divided country. His pledge follows months of political upheaval.

"The French today need and have expressed their need for respect, unity, and appeasement," Barnier said in his first official speech. He stood in the courtyard of the Matignon Prime Minister's office, beside his predecessor, Gabriel Attal.

Earlier, President Emmanuel Macron appointed Barnier, the EU's former Brexit negotiator, to the prime minister's post. Macron tasked him with unifying France and ending the political paralysis resulting from an inconclusive snap election.