Former Prime Minister Michel Barnier, who was removed from office in a historic no-confidence vote, has become known for his remarkable calmness throughout his fifty years in politics, but he will be remembered as the shortest-serving PM in French history.
Appointed by President Emmanuel Macron in September to lead a minority government following inconclusive parliamentary elections, Mr. Barnier frequently emphasized the importance of “keeping one’s cool” in confronting the challenging role.
His characteristic “sang-froid” was evident during his previous tenure as the European Union’s chief negotiator in the Brexit discussions with the British government.
He maintained his composure during a parliamentary session yesterday evening, speaking shortly before the far-right and hard-left factions voted to oust his government in a groundbreaking no-confidence motion.
With only three months in office, Mr. Barnier is set to enter the history books as the shortest-serving prime minister since the establishment of the Fifth Republic in France in 1958.
Former French PM Gabriel Attal speaks during the no-confidence debate
Having held the positions of foreign minister and served twice as an EU commissioner in Brussels, he is internationally recognized for negotiating Britain’s exit from the European Union on behalf of the bloc following the 2016 referendum.
Mr. Barnier, firm yet courteous in discussions and greatly respected by his team, earned considerable praise for his management of the negotiation process.
Originating from the Haute Savoie region in the Alps, Mr. Barnier first entered France’s parliament at the young age of 27 during the 1970s, and he began his government career in the mid-1990s under then-president Jacques Chirac.
‘Not a fun guy’
He often cites his alpine roots as an explanation for his “methodical” work approach, openly admitting that he is “not a fun guy” and has little patience for the “bluster” prevalent among younger peers in the Parisian political landscape.
When he replaced Gabriel Attal, who was 35, in September, Mr. Barnier became the oldest prime minister in contemporary French history, being more than double the age of his youthful predecessor.
Some have referred to him as the “French Joe Biden,” likening him to the U.S. leader whose political career spans a similar duration.
Mr. Barnier described his acceptance of the challenging role of prime minister as “an honour,” while also making it clear that he had no intention of clinging to the position at any cost.
Michel Barnier with then taoiseach Enda Kenny at Government Buildings in Dublin on 11 May 2017
‘Couldn’t care less’
On the eve of the no-confidence votes, he expressed how little appeal the corridors of power still hold for him.
“I am proud to serve, very honoured to be prime minister,” he stated in a prime-time television interview on Tuesday from his elegant office.
“But the golden decorations surrounding us, the official limousines, and all the trappings of power of the republic? I couldn’t care less about those,” he said.
When asked about the no-confidence motion, he replied: “I’m ready.”
One of his unnamed ministers characterized Mr. Barnier as “an incarnation of stability,” whereas a deputy from the previous administration labeled him a “huge disappointment” and “old-fashioned.”
Mr. Barnier authored a book on Brexit titled *My Secret Brexit Diary: A Glorious Illusion*—the title itself indicating his views on the UK’s departure from the European Union.
‘With dignity’
In this published work, Mr. Barnier avoided any scandalous gossip but revealed his astonishment at the way British officials were managing the Brexit process.
Michel Barnier pictured ahead of a vote on the UK’s Brexit resolution principles in Strasbourg in 2017
“They have not realized the consequences of what is truly at stake here,” he noted.
After failing to secure the nomination from The Republicans (LR) party to contest Mr. Macron in the 2022 presidential election, Mr. Barnier largely retreated from the French political scene.
He expressed his desire to be remembered as “an honest man, a patriot and a European, who served his country with dignity.”
