President Emmanuel Macron named Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister on Thursday, hoping the Brexit negotiator and veteran conservative can work with the country's bitterly divided legislature to end political turmoil that has roiled Macron's presidency. Barnier, 73, is the oldest of the 26 prime ministers that have served modern France's Fifth Republic. He replaces the youngest, Gabriel Attal, who was 34 when he was appointed just eight months ago. Macron's appointment ends more than 50 days of a caretaker government in France, but offers no guarantee of a return to political calm. As Barnier faces the tough task of having to work with the acrimonious and deeply split hung parliament, FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney is joined by Ariane Bogain, Senior Lecturer in French Politics at Northumbria University.
