President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday that centrist leader Francois Bayrou has been appointed as prime minister, tasked with steering France out of a prolonged political crisis.
Bayrou, the 73-year-old head of the MoDem group allied with Macron’s party, was chosen nine days after parliament ousted Michel Barnier’s government in a historic no-confidence vote, triggered by a standoff over an austerity budget.
“The President of the Republic has appointed Mr. Francois Bayrou as prime minister and tasked him with forming a government,” the French presidency said.
Bayrou’s appointment sparked swift criticism, with the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party and the Greens threatening to support a new motion of censure.
This is Bayrou’s sixth prime ministerial role under Macron, following Barnier’s tenure, which lasted just three months and became France’s shortest-serving prime minister.
Bayrou now faces the challenge of forming a government that can survive a no-confidence vote in a divided parliament while addressing the 2025 budget to avoid further economic instability.
The announcement followed nearly two hours of discussions between Macron and Bayrou on Friday, with BFMTV reporting that the talks were tense.
Barnier, 73, was expected to formally hand over power to Bayrou during a ceremony Friday afternoon, with a red carpet rolled out and microphones positioned at the Matignon, the seat of the French government.
The new cabinet is expected to be revealed at a later date.
Bayrou has been tasked with fostering dialogue with all political forces, excluding the far-right National Rally (RN) and the hard-left LFI, in an effort to secure stability and cooperation. A member of Macron’s team described Bayrou as the most consensual choice.
Both RN and LFI parties had recently joined forces to bring down Barnier’s government, leaving Macron navigating a complex political landscape following summer elections, which resulted in no party holding a majority in the lower house.
Marine Le Pen suggested Bayrou’s appointment could deepen the deadlock, saying, “We are asking him to do what his predecessor was unwilling to do: listen to the opposition and build a reasonable, well-considered budget.”
The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP), comprising Socialists, Communists, Greens, and LFI, had demanded that Macron appoint a prime minister from their ranks, but Bayrou’s appointment did not meet their expectations.
LFI lawmakers threatened to propose a new motion of censure, while Green Party chief Marine Tondelier warned of potential censure if Bayrou’s government did not shift its economic policies.
Communist leader Fabien Roussel deemed Bayrou’s appointment “bad news” and criticized the lack of political direction change.
Public opinion polls have indicated widespread frustration, with more than two-thirds of respondents to an Elabe poll published on Wednesday calling for politicians to reach an agreement to avoid toppling a new government.
Macron had initially intended to announce Barnier’s successor during a national address last week but missed a 48-hour deadline, further deepening the political uncertainty.
Candidates considered for the prime minister position included former Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, and former Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
The political crisis has left many voters disillusioned, with increasing calls for stability and a unified government moving forward.
