French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named his centrist ally François Bayrou as prime minister after last week’s historic parliamentary vote toppled the previous government.
Bairou, 73, a key partner in Macron’s centrist coalition, has been a well-known figure in French politics for decades. His political experience is seen as key to efforts to restore stability at a time when no single party has a majority in parliament.
Macron’s office said in a statement that Bayrou had been “charged with the crime of forming a new government.”
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Former Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned last week following a vote of no confidence in parliament over a budget dispute, leaving France without a functioning government.
In a speech to the nation, Macron vowed to remain president until his term ends in 2027.
Macron’s centrist coalition does not have a majority in parliament, and Bayrou’s government will need to rely on moderate lawmakers on the left and right to stay in power. Some conservatives are expected to join the new government.
French President Emmanuel Macron (right) speaks with François Bayrou, leader of France’s centrist party MoDem (Movement for Democracy), at the Elysée Palace in Paris, France, on June 21, 2022. On December 13, 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Bayrou as the new prime minister. (Pool photo, file via Ludovic Marin/AP)
Macron’s strategy aims to prevent far-right leader Marine Le Pen from gaining “make-or-break” power over the government. Last week, Ms. Le Pen joined the left wing of the National Party in passing a no-confidence motion and helped oust Mr. Barnier.
Mr Bayrou’s appointment is also consistent with Mr Macron’s efforts to strike a non-aggression pact with the Socialist Party, pledging not to vote against the government in future confidence votes.
Bayrou heads the centrist democratic movement known as MoDem, which he founded in 2007.
In 2017, it supported Macron’s first presidential bid and became a key partner in the French president’s centrist coalition.
At the time, he was appointed justice minister, but soon resigned from the government amid a Foreign Ministry investigation into allegations of embezzlement of European Parliament funds.
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Bairou was acquitted in the case by a Paris court earlier this year, while eight other party officials were found guilty and the party was sentenced to pay fines.
Bairou became well known to the French public when he served as Minister of Education in the conservative government from 1993 to 1997.
He was a presidential candidate three times, in 2002, 2007, and 2012.
