François Bayrou, a prominent centrist and long-time ally of President Emmanuel Macron, has been appointed France’s new prime minister following last week’s historic vote of no-confidence, which ended the brief and troubled minority coalition led by right-wing politician Michel Barnier.
Bayrou, 73, is the leader of the centrist MoDem party and a political heavyweight from southwestern France. Known as a “man of the countryside,” Bayrou has held various key positions, including education minister and mayor of Pau. He has been a close confidant to Macron since the president’s rise to power in 2017.
Bayrou’s appointment comes at a time of significant political turmoil. His predecessor, Barnier, was ousted after just three months, and Macron faces the challenge of navigating a divided parliament. Since the inconclusive snap election in June, France’s parliament has been fractured between three groups, with no absolute majority. The left alliance won the most votes but lacked the majority, Macron’s centrist bloc suffered losses, and the far-right National Rally gained ground but was blocked by tactical voting.
The first task for Bayrou will be to form a government capable of collaborating with parliament to pass the 2025 national budget. His appointment has sparked criticism from both the left and right. Left-wing politicians argue that Bayrou’s selection represents a continuation of Macron’s policies and fails to respect the snap election results. Manon Aubry of La France Insoumise criticized Bayrou as the embodiment of “Macronism.” On the right, Bayrou remains unpopular due to his rivalry with former president Nicolas Sarkozy.
Despite the controversy, centrist MPs have praised Bayrou for his experience and ability to forge compromises, calling him well-suited to lead in these turbulent times.
