Macron names EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister

PARIS (AP) — President Emmanuel Macron named on Thursday the EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister, after more than 50 days of a caretaker government.

The appointment of the 73-year-old Barnier follows weeks of intense efforts by Macron and his aides to bring an intense period of political turmoil to an end by finding a government leader who can survive in France's newly fractured political landscape.

Barnier faces the tough task of having to work with the bitterly divided, hung parliament that emerged from legislative elections that Macron called in June, in a huge surprise.

Without a legislative majority of his own behind him, Barnier will need to find loose ad hoc groupings of backers in the National Assembly to tackle France's pressing issues — including the budget for 2025.

Barnier could quickly face possible attempts in parliament to topple the new government he will now put together and lead. Opponents of Macron on the left of French politics immediately portrayed the appointment of the conservative Barnier as a slap in the face of those who voted for them.

A statement from Macron's office announcing Barnier's appointment said he'd been tasked “with forming a unifying government to serve the country and the French people.”

“This appointment comes after an unprecedented cycle of consultations during which, in accordance with his constitutional duty, the president ensured that the prime minister and the future government would meet the conditions to be as stable as possible and give themselves the chances of uniting as broadly as possible,” the statement said.

Barnier, a career politician proud of his humble roots in France’s Alpine region of Haute-Savoie, is no stranger to complex and difficult tasks: He was the European Union’s chief negotiator in the difficult talks with Britain over its Brexit departure from the bloc.

Barnier replaces Gabriel Attal, who was France's youngest-ever prime minister and first openly gay head of government when he was appointed in January at age 34.

Attal resigned on July 16 following quick-fire legislative elections that produced a divided and hung parliament, plunging France into intense political uncertainty.

But Macron kept Attal and his ministers on in a caretaker capacity, handling day-to-day affairs, so political instability wouldn’t overshadow the July 26-Aug. 11 Paris Olympics, when France was in the global spotlight.

In political career over more than 50 years, Barnier has served as French foreign, European affairs, environment and agriculture minister — and twice as a European commissioner.

Influential far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon immediately came out against Barnier’s appointment and predicted the new prime minister would not get a majority backing in the bitterly divided National Assembly.

Melenchon said the appointment flew in the face of the July 7 legislative election results that left parliament’s lower house split between three main blocs — the left, including Melenchon’s party; the center where Macron has based his support, and the far right, converging around anti-immigration leader Marine Le Pen.

“The election has been stolen,” Melenchon asserted.

Le Pen, on the other hand, indicated that she's willing to give Barnier a chance but said her National Rally party won't take part in his government because the new prime minister “does not share our ideas.”

She says the 2025 budget will be a priority for Barnier's government; it faces a tight deadline to deliver one. France is also under pressure from the European Union to get its finances in order, with Brussels having rebuked Paris for running up excessive debt.

“Barnier is a man respectful of other political forces," Le Pen said. “It’s important because compromises will have to be reached, considering the state of France’s budget.”

Associated Press journalist Diane Jeantet in Paris contributed.

FILE - French President Emmanuel Macron, right, whispers to European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as he visits the International Agriculture Fair, in Paris, France. President Emmanuel Macron named the former EU Brexit negotiator as France's new prime minister on Thursday after more than 50 days of caretaker government. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

FILE - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right, and European Commission's Head of Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom Michel Barnier address a media conference on Brexit negotiations at EU headquarters in Brussels, on Dec. 24, 2020. President Emmanuel Macron named the former EU Brexit negotiator as France's new prime minister on Thursday after more than 50 days of caretaker government. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, Pool, File)

File - Michel Barnier, supporter of conservative presidential candidate Valerie Pecresse speaks during a campaign rally on Feb. 13, 2022 in Paris. President Emmanuel Macron named the former EU Brexit negotiator as France's new prime minister on Thursday after more than 50 days of caretaker government. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives at the Youth and Artificial Intelligence Forum at the InGrid-Schneider Electric LLC Company, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. During a two-day visit to Serbia by French President Emmanuel Macron, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday announced a $3 billion deal to buy 12 French warplanes, in a move that shifts his country away from its dependence on Russian arms. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

French President Emmanuel Macron addresses attendees at the Youth and Artificial Intelligence Forum at the InGrid-Schneider Electric LLC Company, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. During a two-day visit to Serbia by French President Emmanuel Macron, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday announced a $3 billion deal to buy 12 French warplanes, in a move that shifts his country away from its dependence on Russian arms. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals have walked out of Arrowhead Stadium both elated and dejected over the years. Most of the time it has been January, and they have been playing the Kansas City Chiefs for a spot in the Super Bowl.

There wasn't that same sort of finality on Sunday. But another last-second loss was brutal in its own way.

The Bengals had fought and rallied and fought some more to take the lead on Evan McPherson's fourth field goal with just under 10 minutes to go. And after their defense had forced Kansas City to punt, it was on the verge of another big stop, when a penalty on safety Daijahn Anthony inside the final minute kept the Chiefs' own comeback hopes alive.

A few plays later, Harrison Butker kicked a 51-yard field goal as time expired to give Kansas City a 26-25 victory.

“It hurts,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor admitted, “but I'm really proud of the way we fought. We put ourselves in some really good situations in both halves. The defense getting those takeaways was critical. I’m disappointed that we lost. It was an emotional loss for us. But at the same time, I like where our team’s mental state is right now.”

It was an especially emotional game for Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase, who had to be held back from referee Alex Kemp at one point in the fourth quarter after he thought a penalty should have been called for a hip-drop tackle on him.

It was Burrow who physically dragged his wide receiver away as Kemp threw a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct.

“It's just simply abusive language toward a game official. That's all it was,” Kemp said after the game. “There was really no interpretation. I'm not going to repeat to you what he said, but there was no interpretation with the language that he used.”

Kemp said Chase crossed a line when it became “profanity used by grown men versus direct, personal, abusive language towards a game official. That's the line. When that line gets crossed, we simply can't let that happen in pro football.”

Chase refused to discuss the penalty in the postgame locker room, saying only: “It doesn’t feel great losing.”

“It’s OK to be emotional,” Taylor said. “I can’t see everything that’s said or done, so it’s better that I not comment on it.”

The Bengals still have 15 games ahead of them, but they are already in a deep hole. Their surprising loss to the Patriots in their season opener means they are 0-2, and should Taylor manage to get them turned around and into the playoffs, they now face the prospect of Kansas City holding the tiebreaker over them.

That could mean another matchup in Arrowhead Stadium. Butker's kick on Sunday was the same direction, and almost the same distance, as the 45-yarder he hit against the Bengals for a 23-20 victory in the AFC championship game on Jan. 29, 2023.

There were certainly bright spots for Cincinnati, especially after its performance last week against New England.

Burrow looked much better throwing the ball, finishing with 258 yards passing and two touchdowns. Most importantly, he did not seem to be affected by his bothersome wrist in his second game since having surgery on it.

Burrow did fumble the ball, though, and Chamarri Conner returned it 37 yards for a second-half touchdown.

“I gifted them six points,” Burrow said, "so that was frustrating.”

Both of his touchdown passes went to Andrei Iosivas, who came through as Tee Higgins missed another game with a hamstring injury. Iosivas and tight end Mike Gesicki, who had seven catches for 91 yards, also helped make up for a poor game from Chase, who was limited to four catches for 35 yards and had the silly unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

That flag was thrown after Chase's reception had set up a manageable third down midway through the fourth quarter. The 15-yard penalty pushed the Bengals back to third-and-22 at the Kansas City 45, and after a 10-yard pass to Gesicki, the Bengals had to kick a field goal for a 25-23 lead with just over five minutes left in the game.

Ultimately, penalties were a big reason why the Bengals came undone. They had eight of them for 79 yards. And while the one against Chase was important, the one against Anthony on fourth down in the final minute was crippling.

“We’ve been here before, unfortunately. We know what this feels like, and we know it’s a long season,” Taylor said. “We know we can get ourselves out of it. Stick together. Get our emotions in check and come back (next week) and play a great game.”

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (88) leaps over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (7) walks off the field after kicking a 51-yard field goal at the end of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals to give the Chiefs a 26-25 victory Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (7) kicks a 51-yard field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals to give the Chiefs a 26-25 victory Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)