French President Emmanuel Macron Appoints François Bayrou as Prime Minister Amid Political Turmoil

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed centrist ally François Bayrou as prime minister on Friday. It followed a historic parliamentary vote that ousted the previous government last week. A well-known figure in French politics, 73-year-old Bayrou is a crucial partner in Macron’s centrist alliance.

His political experience is seen as vital in efforts to restore stability in a fragmented National Assembly. No single party in the House holds a majority.

Recently cleared of charges alleging embezzlement of European Parliament funds, Bayrou will now face the challenge of leading the country through a divided parliament. He is expected to announce his list of ministers in the coming days.

However, he is likely to encounter the same challenges as his predecessor, Michel Barnier, in navigating legislation through a parliament composed of three warring blocs. His close ties to the deeply unpopular Macron may also make him a target for political Opposition, news agency Reuters reported.

President of the far-right National Rally party, Jordan Bardella, stated they would not immediately call for a no-confidence motion against Bayrou.

France’s Political Crisis at a Glance

The appointment of Bayrou comes in the backdrop of political chaos and instability in France. The country recently voted on a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Michel Barnier that ended his three-month term and further deepened the political crisis. The motion was backed by both the left and the far-right. It followed Barnier’s controversial use of Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to pass the 2025 social security budget bill without a parliamentary vote. The move triggered no-confidence motions from both Opposition blocs.

Al though Barnier, who headed Macron’s minority government, was hopeful that his administration would survive the vote. In an interview with French TV, he had expressed confidence and said, “I want this and it is possible. It depends on the MPs. I think it is possible that there is this reflex of responsibility where — beyond political differences, divergences, the normal contradictions in a democracy — we tell ourselves that there is a higher interest.”

The fall of Barnier’s government, according to analysts, was exacerbated by France’s growing budget deficit.

Barnier emerged as the shortest-serving prime minister in modern French history. The motion against him marked the first successful no-confidence motion since 1962.

Barnier’s appointment as prime minister in September 2024 came after Macron’s centrist alliance suffered a major defeat in the legislative assembly elections. In the wake of a landslide victory by Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally in the June European Union elections, Macron dissolved the National Assembly and called for snap elections.

The two-round elections saw the National Rally win the first round, but a coalition of left-wing parties successfully blocked their progress in the second round. Despite this, no party secured an absolute majority, and it resulted in a hung parliament. It was a setback for Macron’s centrist alliance. The outcome led to the formation of a coalition government for the first time in 22 years.

Faced with this gridlock, Macron appointed Barnier as prime minister. He did it despite the left-wing coalition securing the largest share of votes.

Following Barnier’s removal, his 2025 budget proposal, which includes $60 billion in tax increases and spending cuts, is expected to undergo significant revisions.