Francois Bayrou has been appointed as France’s new prime minister, amid political turmoil that led to Michel Barnier’s resignation.
President Emmanuel Macron appointed the veteran centrist politician after a nearly two hour long meeting, at the Elysee Palace.
The president’s office said in a statement that Bayrou “has been charged with forming a new government.”
Bayrou is the founder of the centrist Democratic Movement political party (MoDem), a former education minister, mayor of the south-western town of Pau and top ally to Emmanuel Macron.
This decision was the president’s attempt to stabilise the political turmoil in France, when Barnier’s government was ousted last week, after only three months in office.
The latter collapsed while attempting to pass a 2025 budget, which included €60 billion worth of tax hikes. Barnier’s attempt to force this agenda, without a vote caused lawmakers to oust him, and left and right wing forces to unite against him.
Through a severely divided parliament, the 73 year-old prime minister is expected to form a government and take on the challenge, by passing his own budget before the 21st of December.
