PARIS, France — In a bid to stabilise France’s fractious political landscape, President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, December 13, 2024, appointed François Bayrou as the country’s new prime minister.
The 73-year-old centrist leader, who heads the MoDem party, takes office after months of political gridlock and the collapse of his predecessor’s government.
Bayrou’s appointment follows the ousting of Michel Barnier, whose tenure lasted just three months.
Barnier’s government fell after a contentious budget proposal failed to gain parliamentary support, marking yet another setback for Macron’s administration, now reliant on fragile alliances in the National Assembly.
A “Himalayan” Task
Bayrou, who also serves as mayor of Pau in southwest France, acknowledged the scale of the challenges ahead.
“I am fully aware of the Himalayan task facing France,” he said. “I will hide nothing, neglect nothing, and leave nothing aside.”
With France’s budget deficit projected to reach 6.1% of GDP this year, Bayrou emphasised the moral and financial imperative of addressing public debt.
“Passing it on to one’s children is a terrible thing to do,” he said.
Political Deadlock
France has been mired in political stalemate since Macron called snap parliamentary elections in the summer.
The elections resulted in a fragmented parliament, divided into three blocs: the left, the centre, and the far right.
Opinion polls indicate that 61% of French voters are worried about the ongoing political instability.
Bayrou’s challenge will be to form a government capable of surviving in this divided legislature.
His predecessor, Barnier, was voted out after Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally joined left-wing MPs to block his €60 billion plan of tax increases and spending cuts aimed at reducing the deficit.
Macron’s decision to appoint Bayrou, a consensus-seeking centrist with passable relations across the political spectrum, reflects a strategy to build bridges with both left- and right-leaning factions.
Dissent from All Sides
While many praised Bayrou’s appointment, critics have been vocal.
Socialist regional leader Carole Delga described the process as a “bad movie,” while Manuel Bompard, leader of the far-left France Unbowed (LFI), dismissed it as a “pathetic spectacle.”
The Socialists and Greens, though willing to engage in talks, have refused to join Bayrou’s government.
Socialist leader Olivier Faure noted that Macron had chosen someone “from his own camp,” adding that the Socialists would remain in opposition.
Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, which supported the vote of no confidence that ousted Barnier, has stated its willingness to cooperate with Bayrou if he addresses key issues such as immigration and the cost of living.
A Fraught Path Forward
Bayrou’s appointment was not without drama. Reports from Le Monde suggest that Macron initially preferred another ally, Roland Lescure, but pivoted to Bayrou after the latter threatened to withdraw his party’s support.
The red carpet had already been rolled out at the Hôtel Matignon, the prime minister’s residence, before Bayrou’s name was officially confirmed.
Barnier, in his farewell remarks, wished Bayrou the best, noting that “our country is in an unprecedented and serious situation.”
His outgoing government has proposed a bill to extend the 2024 budget provisions into the coming year, leaving the 2025 budget to the next government.
Building Bridges
President Macron has vowed to remain in office until his term ends in 2027, despite the upheaval.
Bayrou’s success will depend on his ability to unite a fractured parliament and navigate the red lines of various political factions.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s LFI has already called for a vote of no confidence in Bayrou’s government.
Meanwhile, relations between the centre-left Socialists and the radical LFI appear strained, with Faure remarking, “The more Mélenchon shouts, the less he’s heard.”
Marine Le Pen, however, urged for collaboration, saying the incoming government should craft a budget that accommodates all parties’ core concerns.
