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Macron Names François Bayrou as France's Fourth Prime Minister This Year After Barnier's Ouster

Dec 13, 2024, 01:59 PM

French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed centrist ally François Bayrou as the new Prime Minister of France. The appointment follows the ousting of previous Prime Minister Michel Barnier through a historic parliamentary vote of no confidence last week, marking the second major political crisis in six months. Bayrou, 73, is a veteran politician, leader of the Democratic Movement (MoDem) party, and a long-time ally of Macron. He faces the daunting task of navigating France out of months of political crisis and assembling a stable cabinet. This is the fourth prime minister appointed by Macron in 2024, highlighting the ongoing political instability in the country. Prior to this appointment, Bayrou served as Education Minister and was a presidential candidate in 2002, 2007, and 2012.