Macron appoints ally François Bayrou, prime minister of France

2024-12-13 15:07:56, Kosova & Bota CNA

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday appointed his centrist ally François Bayrou as prime minister in a bid to pave the way for a solution to the country's deep political crisis after the previous government was ousted in a historic no-confidence motion.

Bayrou, 73, a key partner in Mr Macron's centrist alliance, has been a familiar figure in French politics for decades. His political experience is considered critical in efforts to restore stability, as no single party holds a majority in the National Assembly.

President Macron's office said in a statement that Mr Bayrou "has been tasked with forming a new government". Former prime minister Michel Barnier resigned last week after a no-confidence vote over budget disputes, leaving France without a functioning government.

In an address to the nation, Mr Macron pledged to stay in office until his term ends in 2027. Mr Bayrou is expected to hold talks with various party leaders in the coming days to choose new ministers.

This process looks challenging because President Macron's alliance does not have a majority in parliament and Mr. Bayrou's cabinet will need to secure the support of moderate lawmakers from both the left and the right to retain power. Some conservatives are expected to be part of the new government.

President Macron's strategy is not to let far-right leader Marine Le Pen and her party's votes determine whether the government stands or falls.

Ms Le Pen played a role in ousting former prime minister Barnier after her National Union party combined votes with the left, enabling a no-confidence motion to pass last week.

Party chairman Jordan Bardella said Friday that for now his party will wait to see how the course of events unfolds.

"Our red lines still exist, they will not change," he warned.

National Union officials, including Ms Le Pen, have said they want any new budget law to protect the purchasing power of the French people.

Mr. Bayrou heads the centrist Democratic Movement, known as MoDem, which he founded in 2007. In 2017, he backed Mr. Macron's first presidential run and became a key partner in the French president's centrist alliance.

At the time, he was appointed justice minister, but quickly resigned from the government amid an investigation into allegations his party embezzled European Parliament funds.

A Paris court this year dismissed the charges against him and found eight other party officials guilty, as well as imposing a fine on the political force.

Mr. Bayrou became known to the French public when he was minister of education from 1993 to 1997 in a conservative government./ VOA