- French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Ally centrist François Bayrou as prime minister, after a historic parliamentary vote toppled the previous government.
- Former Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned last week following a no-confidence vote, leaving France without a functioning government.
- Bayrou leads the centrist Democratic Movement, known as MoDem, which he founded in 2007.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday appointed his senior ally François Bayrou as prime minister, after a historic parliamentary vote toppled the previous government last week.
Bayrou, 73, a key partner in Macron's centrist coalition, has been a prominent figure in French politics for decades. His experience in politics is considered important in efforts to restore stability as no party has a majority in the National Assembly.
Macron's office said in a statement that Bayrou “has been charged with forming a new government.”
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Former Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned last week following a vote of no confidence sparked by budget disputes in the National Assembly, leaving France without a functioning government.
Macron, in his speech to the nation, vowed to remain in office until the end of his term in 2027.
Macron's centrist Alliance does not have a majority in parliament and Bayrou's cabinet will need to rely on moderates from the left and right to stay in power. Some conservatives are expected to be part of the new government.
French President Emmanuel Macron, right, meets with French MoDem (Movement Democrate) party leader François Bayrou at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, June 21, 2022. French President -Emmanuel Macron appointed Bayrou as the new prime minister on Dec.13 2024. (Photo by Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP, File)
Macron's strategy aims to prevent far-right leader Marine Le Pen from seizing “make or break” power in government. Le Pen helped oust Barnier by joining forces with her left-wing National Rally party to pass a motion of no confidence in him last week.
Bayrou's appointment also coincides with Macron's efforts to forge a non-aggression pact with the Socialists to commit to not voting against the government in any future confidence motion.
Bayrou leads the centrist Democratic Movement, known as MoDem, which he founded in 2007.
In 2017, he supported Macron's first presidential bid and became a key partner in the French presidential coalition.
At the time, he was appointed justice minister, but quickly resigned from the government amid an investigation into alleged MoDem embezzlement of European Parliament funds.
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Bayrou was this year exonerated by a Paris court, which found eight other party officials guilty and ordered the party to pay a fine.
Bayrou became well known in French society when he was minister of education from 1993 to 1997 in the coalition government.
He was elected president three times, in 2002, 2007 and 2012.
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