Status: 27.08.2021 10:11 a.m.
Prominent competition for French President Macron: In the 2022 presidential election, the former Brexit negotiator, Barnier, wants to challenge the incumbent. Before that, Barnier’s party has the floor.
The former Brexit negotiator of the European Union, Michel Barnier, wants to run as a candidate for the presidential election in France next year. The 70-year-old wants to challenge incumbent Emmanuel Macron, he said on TV channel TF1.
“There are challenging and serious times ahead of us,” said Barnier. He claims to be the president of a reconciled France. First, however, he has to face an internal area code of his conservative party “Les Republicains”.
Hints in February
In February, Barnier had already sparked speculation about a presidential candidacy by setting up a working group in the French parliament. The former foreign minister announced in December that he would serve his country in a different way once negotiations with Great Britain were concluded. He didn’t give any details at the time.
There is likely to be some overlap between the potential Macrons and Barniers constituencies. According to polls, Macron and the right wing Marine Le Pen would currently reach the second round of the presidential election. The presidential election in France is due to take place in April 2022.