New French PM faces backlash over controversial visit to Azerbaijan’s Karabakh

Michel Barnier, appointed as the new Prime Minister of France, is facing scrutiny over a controversial visit he made in 2021.

Barnier, along with French presidential candidate Valérie Pécresse, traveled to the Nagorno-Karabakh region, an area under Armenian separatist control, from December 21 to 23, 2021, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

During this visit, Barnier and Pécresse publicly advocated for the withdrawal of the French ambassador from Azerbaijan and called for sanctions against the Azerbaijani government. This stance has drawn criticism from Azerbaijani officials and observers, who view it as a provocative action against Baku.

Barnier's appointment by President Emmanuel Macron, who is perceived as having a critical stance towards Azerbaijan, is expected to further strain the diplomatic relations between France and Azerbaijan.

The visit and its implications may heighten tensions between the two nations, raising concerns about the future of their bilateral relations under Barnier’s leadership.