Macron Appoints Michel Barnier As New Prime Minister

According to CoinDesk, French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Michel Barnier as the new prime minister, replacing Gabriel Attal. This decision follows the country's snap election in July, which resulted in no party gaining overall control of the National Assembly. Barnier, 73, is known for his role as the European Union's chief negotiator during the Brexit talks and is affiliated with the right-wing Republican party. His predecessor, Gabriel Attal, a 35-year-old from the centrist Renaissance party, resigned after the July 8 election, which saw the left-wing coalition New Popular Front securing the most seats in parliament. Macron's office stated that the appointment followed an unprecedented cycle of consultations. The president aimed to ensure that the new prime minister and government would provide the necessary stability. France, being the second-largest economy in the 27-nation European Union, plays a significant role in the bloc's economic landscape. The European Union recently passed comprehensive legislation for cryptocurrency, known as MiCA, and France began accepting registrations for a license under this framework in early August.