France’s President Emmanuel Macron has appointed centrist ally Francois Bayrou as prime minister in an effort to calm a growing political crisis. The move comes after former office holder Michel Barnier lost a vote of no confidence, forcing him to resign.
Bayrou, 73, is the founder of the Democratic Movement party and mayor of southwestern town Pau. He must now form a government and pass a budget through a sharply divided parliament, where Macron faces opposition from both left-wing and far-right blocs.
Bayrou will focus on passing a budget before December 21 to avoid a shutdown. If he fails, France can use a “fiscal continuity law” to collect taxes and pay salaries while keeping spending at 2024 levels.
France’s opposition parties, including the National Rally and Marine Le Pen’s party, have expressed support for Bayrou, urging him to listen to opposition views and build a reasonable budget. They warn that any extension of Macron’s policies could lead to deadlock and failure.
The appointment comes after a snap parliamentary election in July resulted in a divided parliament, leaving Macron’s centrist lawmakers sandwiched between powerful blocs on the left and far-right. Macron defied calls to step down, saying parliament should act “in the service of the French people.”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/13/europe/bayrou-named-france-prime-minister-intl/index.html