Barnier ‘the quiet force’ edges to front of party’s French presidential bid. Mild-mannered former centrist has become a surprise favourite to win Les Républicains’ nominationWho is leading the race to be the next president of France?In a restaurant in prosperous western Paris, fans of the EU’s former negotiator on Brexit, Michel Barnier, crowded in to hear their hero speak, cheering the mild-mannered 70-year-old who has gone from rank outsider to potential favourite in the contest to choose a presidential candidate for the right’s Les Républicains.Barnier is one of the big surprises of the unpredictable pre-election season in France. He was known for almost 50 years in right-wing French politics as a centrist, liberal-minded neo-Gaullist, devoted to the European cause. But he has amazed observers by significantly hardening his stance as the rightwing party prepared to decide on its candidate early next month. Continue reading… https://ift.tt/3csnBoE

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