Macron Appoints François Bayrou as New French Prime Minister

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday nominated Francois Bayrou as the country's new Prime Minister, the Elysee said in a statement. Bayrou was now tasked with forming a government, Macron's office announced. He would also create a 2025 budget to be approved by the National Assembly, the news agency Xinhua added.

Bayrou, is a centrist and has been an ally to Macron. He replaced the deposed Michel Barnier after the latter lost vote of no confidence on 4 December.

Bayrou was born in 1952. He founded the centrist party Democratic Movement (MoDem) in 2007. He has been a presidential candidate three times, in 2002, 2007, and 2012.

Following the Elysee's announcement on Friday, the President of the far-right wing party National Rally, Jordan Bardella, indicated to French news channel BFMTV that his party would not immediately censor Bayrou but added that Bayrou should "understand that he has no democratic legitimacy nor the majority in the National Assembly, which requires a dialogue with all the forces represented in the parliament."

On its part, the hard-left party La France Insoumise (LFI) said that it will initiate a vote of no confidence to have Bayrou brought down.

The LFI has continually reiterated that the post of prime minister should be taken by someone from the left-wing parties' alliance that received the most seats during this year's snap legislative elections.

Speaking to the press Friday afternoon, Bayrou stressed the need for a reconciliation. "Everyone understands the difficulty of the task.There is a path to be found that unites people instead of dividing them," he said.

His successor was congratulated by Michel Barnier in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter: "In this serious time for France and for Europe, all my personal and friendly wishes for his action as the head of the government."

The transfer of power ceremony is scheduled for 5 p.m. local time.

On December 4, the French National Assembly passed a no-confidence motion against Barnier, forcing him to resign and resulting in the collapse of the government. Barnier's government became the first one in French history to fall on a no-confidence vote since 1962.