French President Emmanuel Macron appointed centrist leader François Bayrou as France’s new Prime Minister on Friday, tasking him with addressing the ongoing political turmoil. Bayrou, head of the MoDem group, allied with Macron’s party, takes office just nine days after a historic no-confidence vote ousted Michel Barnier’s government over an austerity budget standoff.
“The President of the Republic has appointed Mr. François Bayrou as prime minister and tasked him with forming a government,” the French presidency announced, as per news agency AFP. Bayrou’s appointment was immediately met with criticism, particularly from the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party and the Greens, who have threatened to propose a new motion of censure.
Bayrou’s main challenge now lies in forming a cabinet capable of surviving a no-confidence vote in a fractured parliament. He must also navigate the approval of a 2025 budget to mitigate economic instability. The announcement followed nearly two hours of tense talks between Macron and Bayrou, according to BFMTV.
A formal handover ceremony for Barnier took place on Friday afternoon, with a red carpet rolled out and microphones set up at the Matignon, the seat of the French government. The new cabinet is expected to be revealed in the coming days.
Macron has tasked Bayrou with engaging in dialogue with all political forces, excluding the far-right National Rally (RN) and hard-left LFI, to seek stability. “François Bayrou’s name emerged as the most consensual,” a member of Macron’s team said.
Bayrou, 73, leader of the Democratic Movement (MoDem) and an ally of Macron’s party since 2017, becomes the fourth prime minister of 2024. According to Reuters, his immediate priority will be to pass a special law to extend the 2024 budget. This will be followed by an anticipated battle over the 2025 fiscal legislation, disagreements over which had led to Barnier’s ouster.
The French parliament remains deeply fragmented, with three opposing blocs making governance challenging. Bayrou will likely face similar difficulties in passing legislation, compounded by his close association with Macron, whose popularity has reportedly significantly declined.
Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Rally party, told Reuters that they would not file an immediate no-confidence motion against Bayrou. However, France’s ongoing political crisis has raised broader concerns about Macron’s ability to complete his second term, which ends in 2027.
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Bayrou’s Appointment Amid Political Crisis In France
As per Reuters’ report, Macron, in an effort to secure Bayrou’s position, reached out to leaders across the political spectrum, including conservatives and Communists, while excluding the far-right National Rally and the hard-left France Unbowed. The prospect of involving the Socialist Party in a coalition drew sharp criticism, with a government adviser quoted as saying, “Now we will see how many billions the support of the Socialist Party will cost.”
Despite these efforts, Bayrou’s appointment has sparked division. Both the RN and LFI were instrumental in the downfall of Barnier’s government and have not been involved in the most recent discussions. Marine Le Pen, leader of the RN, warned that Bayrou’s appointment could lead to further deadlock. “We are asking him to do what his predecessor was unwilling to do: listen to the opposition and build a reasonable, well-considered budget,” she posted on X.
The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP), formed to prevent the far-right from gaining power, emerged as the largest bloc in the National Assembly following the summer elections. The NFP had demanded that Macron appoint a prime minister from its ranks, and Melenchon’s hard-left party has now threatened a new motion of censure.
“It’s yet another insult to democracy,” said Manuel Bompard, a senior LFI lawmaker, on X. Green Party leader Marine Tondelier expressed similar dissatisfaction, warning that her party would push for a censure motion if Bayrou’s government does not alter its economic policies.
Bayrou’s tenure is expected to be turbulent, his first major test will be the belt-tightening 2025 budget bill, the report stated. His appointment as justice minister in 2017, which ended in resignation amid a fraud investigation (from which he was recently cleared), is likely to be scrutinised.
Economic challenges persist amid the political uncertainty, as business surveys and retail sales continue to falter. Macron’s administration hopes Bayrou can stave off no-confidence motions at least until July 2025, when a new parliamentary election could be held. However, the broader question of Macron’s presidency remains in the balance, especially if Bayrou’s government fails.
Bayrou, previously appointed justice minister in 2017 before stepping down amid a fraud investigation for which he was cleared this year, will announce his ministerial team in the coming days. A recent Elabe poll showed that over two-thirds of respondents want politicians to reach a deal to avoid the collapse of any new government.
