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Key facts on Michel Barnier, France's new prime minister

1 min Mena Today

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

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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