- French President Emmanuel Macron appointed his centrist ally, François Bayrou, as prime minister, after a historic parliamentary vote that ousted the previous government.
- Former Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned last week after a vote of no confidence, leaving France without an effective government.
- Bayrou leads the centrist democratic movement known as MoDem, which he founded in 2007.
French President Emmanuel Macron On Friday, he appointed his centrist ally, François Bayrou, as prime minister, after a historic parliamentary vote that ousted the previous government last week.
Bayrou (73 years old) is an important partner in Macron's centrist coalition, and a well-known figure in French politics for decades. His political experience is considered essential in efforts to restore stability as no single party enjoys a majority in the National Assembly.
Macron's office said in a statement that Bayrou is “tasked with forming a new government.”
Former Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned last week after a vote of no confidence over budget disagreements in the National Assembly, leaving France without an effective government.
In an address to the nation, Macron pledged to remain in office until the end of his term in 2027.
Macron's centrist coalition does not have a majority in parliament and Bayrou's government will have to rely on moderate lawmakers from both the left and the right to be able to stay in power. It is expected that some conservatives will participate in the new government.
French President Emmanuel Macron, right, meets with French centrist MoDem (Movement for Democracy) leader François Bayrou at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on June 21, 2022. French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Bayrou as new prime minister on December 13, 2024. (Photo by Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP, File)
Macron's strategy aims to prevent far-right leader Marine Le Pen from controlling the government. Le Pen helped oust Barnier by joining forces with the left-wing National Rally party to pass a no-confidence motion last week.
Bayrou's appointment is also in line with Macron's efforts To build a non-aggression pact with the Socialists so that they would commit not to vote against the government on any motion of confidence in the future.
Bayrou leads the centrist democratic movement known as MoDem, which he founded in 2007.
In 2017, he backed Macron's first presidential bid and became a heavyweight partner in the French president's centrist coalition.
At the time, he was appointed Minister of Justice, but he soon resigned from the government amid an investigation into the MDM's alleged embezzlement of European Parliament funds.
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Bayrou was acquitted this year of the case by a Paris court, which found eight other party officials guilty and ordered the party to pay a fine.
Bayro became known For the French audience When he was Minister of Education from 1993 to 1997 in a Conservative government.
He ran for president three times in 2002, 2007 and 2012.
