Key facts on Michel Barnier, France's new prime minister
1 min
French President Emmanuel Macron appointed the European Union's former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as his new prime minister on Thursday in a bid to end political paralysis following an inconclusive snap election.
Michel Barnier, former European Union's Brexit negotiator, Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes
French President Emmanuel Macron appointed the European Union's former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as his new prime minister on Thursday in a bid to end political paralysis following an inconclusive snap election.
Here are a few key facts about Barnier:
* 1951 - Born Jan. 9 in La Tronche, a suburb of the French Alpine city of Grenoble.
* 1978 - Elected to parliament aged 27, representing the Gaullist, centre-right Savoie district.
* 1992 - Co-organiser of Winter Olympics held at Albertville in his constituency, an event still central to his public image.
* 1993-95 - Environment minister.
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