The Monocle Minute

After more than 50 days of deliberation, Emmanuel Macron has named Michel Barnier, the EU’s former chief Brexit negotiator, as France’s next prime minister. The long wait has delivered a prime minister who will not be immediately vetoed by the Assemblée nationale but will struggle to restore stability to government. Barnier’s appointment merely opens the door to further political chaos, which began when Macron called early elections in July.

On paper, Barnier’s profile makes him a solid pick. He has a reputation as an adept negotiator and his centre-right positioning roughly reflects the political balance in the Assemblée nationale. He has been critical of Macron in the past, which will help him rebuff accusations that he is at the president’s beck and call. Politically, however, Macron’s choice pours oil on a fire of his own making.

Many will feel that he has ignored the people’s demand for change. He has picked a prime minister who is conveniently aligned with what he considers his key legacy: the highly unpopular increase in retirement age that both the left and far-right have campaigned against. The political destiny of Barnier’s government will also depend on the co-operation of Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National, which Macron had cast as an extremist bogeyman not to be negotiated with. Now Macron has given Le Pen leverage over the new government. There will be outrage on the streets, cries of a “stolen election” and further polarisation – all of which will make the consensus needed to pass crucial legislation, including the budget, more difficult. Governing France today makes Brexit negotiations look like a stroll in the Luxembourg Gardens. Let’s hope Barnier has a good pair of walking shoes.

Simon Bouvier is Monocle’s Paris bureau chief. For more opinion, analysis and insight, subscribe to Monocle today.

The Grand Green Osaka, a highly anticipated mixed-use development 40 years in the making, officially opens its doors today in the heart of Japan’s second city. The sprawling complex combines luxury shopping, dining, co-working spaces and the country’s first Waldorf Astoria (set to open in 2025). Developed by a consortium led by Mitsubishi Estate, it aims to be a landmark for environmentally conscious architecture.

Drawing inspiration from New York’s Bryant Park and Chicago’s Millennium Park, the project includes features such as solar panels, rainwater-harvesting systems and energy-efficient building materials. While this week’s opening is just the first in a series of stages before final completion in 2027, the former disused freight yard is expected to attract about 100 million visitors a year. Despite Osaka’s reputation as the traditional merchant hub of Japan, its wealth and business capabilities have long been overshadowed by Tokyo. This project is a way for the city to show the world a new, greener side and hint at its can-do attitude.

London has gained a stylish new menswear spot as Copenhagen-based brand No Nationality 07 (NN.07) opened its first shop in the UK this week. The move follows a push for international expansion as the label looks to solidify its presence in Europe and the US. In the latter, NN.07 has noticed a pre-existing interest in its minimalist, Scandinavian offerings such as chore jackets, overshirts and relaxed, tailored trousers.

The shop is located on Earlham Street in Covent Garden and features interiors by Dutch design studio Contrair Collective. Inside, the predominantly cream palette, poured concrete and stone surfaces are offset by brushed-metal details and deep-navy tiles. This new retail chapter highlights the brand’s growth under CEO Anders Rahr. Its Gael patchwork jacket garnered mainstream attention when Jeremy Allen White wore it in TV series The Bear. From Copenhagen to London via Hollywood and Manhattan, the brand’s expansion is by no means minimalist.

This week’s picture is the winner of the 2024 Palm Photo Prize. Taken by New York-based photographer and filmmaker Lindsay Perryman, the photo was picked from among 7,700 submissions. Organised by London-based publisher Palm Studios in collaboration with Melkweg Expo, Amsterdam, the free-to-enter competition is a landmark event in the photography industry that aims to showcase new talent. Winners and shortlisted entrants are offered artist grants and the opportunity to exhibit their work this week at London’s 10 14 Gallery.

We explore some summery stories as the season comes to a close in the Northern Hemisphere, including how ice-cream-shop owners and urbanists think alike, plans for regenerating London’s Crystal Palace Park and revitalisation efforts for India’s railway stations.