The French president named Michel Barnier, the European Union’s former Brexit negotiator, nearly two months after elections that kept the far right from power but resulted in political deadlock.

Prime Minister Michel Barnier has put together a cabinet he hopes will find cross-party support in the fragmented parliament.

In the new parliament, he had been set to head the economic committee in the lower house until Barnier tapped him for the top job at the powerful Ministry of Economics and Finance. Armand is no stranger to "Bercy" as the ministry is often called in France,

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier has announced that he will not raise taxes on the majority of French taxpayers. However, he indicated that the wealthiest citizens would need to contribute to addressing the budget deficit.

By Mathieu Rosemain PARIS (Reuters) - Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Sunday opened the door to raising taxes on France's wealthiest individuals and some big corporations to help close a gaping hole in the public finances,