France’s new Prime Minister Michel Barnier began the difficult task of trying to form a government on Friday, one day after his surprise appointment by President Emmanuel Macron. The former EU commissioner met representatives of the divided parties to sound out the possibilities for a majority capable of forming an administration. He also met Macron for a working lunch and will later make his first public statement on his plans for office on television. As he took office on Thursday evening, Barnier announced a new political direction for France, but it remains unclear which parties the 73-yea…