French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed centrist François Bayrou as the country’s new prime minister, marking the fourth person to hold the role in just one year. This appointment comes after Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government collapsed following a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly due to deadlock over France’s 2025 budget.
Bayrou, leader of the Democratic Movement party (MoDem), has been a key supporter of Macron since his 2017 presidential run. He currently serves as the mayor of Pau and previously held the position of justice minister during Macron’s first term. Despite being embroiled in a European Parliament fund misuse investigation, Bayrou was cleared of any wrongdoing earlier this year. He is also a three-time presidential candidate.
The repeated changes in prime ministers highlight the ongoing political instability in France. Macron, whose term lasts until 2027, called a snap election in June to curb the momentum of the right-wing National Rally after their success in the European Parliament elections. However, the strategy led to a left-wing alliance securing the most seats, as Macron’s party and the left coordinated to prevent the National Rally from gaining a majority.
Since that election, gridlock in the National Assembly has persisted, culminating in Barnier’s ouster. Under French law, a new National Assembly election cannot be called until June 2025, meaning the current political turbulence is likely to continue.
This turmoil comes at a critical time for France, which hosted significant events this year, including the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Bayrou’s appointment signals Macron’s effort to stabilize his government, but whether it succeeds remains uncertain in France’s deeply divided political landscape.
