New French Prime Minister Bayrou Acknowledges Nation’s Difficulties

François Bayrou, a centrist leader, has been appointed as France’s newest prime minister by President Emmanuel Macron, an action intended to resolve several months of political instability. Bayrou, who is 73 years old, serves as a mayor from the south-west region and heads the MoDem party. He stated his complete understanding of the “Himalayan” task confronting France and pledged to “hide nothing, neglect nothing and leave nothing aside”. Macron’s inner circle views him as a potential candidate for consensus, and his objective will be to prevent the outcome experienced by his predecessor. Michel Barnier, a former Brexit negotiator, was removed from office by Members of Parliament nine days prior and greeted Bayrou at the prime minister’s official residence on Friday. Barnier’s removal resulted from a vote concerning a budget designed to reduce France’s budget deficit, projected to reach 6.1% of economic output (GDP) this year. Bayrou characterized the deficit and public debt as both a moral and financial issue, stating that “passing it on to one’s children is a terrible thing to do”. President Macron is currently midway through his second term, and Bayrou will be his fourth prime minister appointed this year. French politics has remained in a stalemate since Macron initiated snap parliamentary elections over the summer, with a BFMTV opinion poll on Thursday indicating that 61% of French voters expressed concern about the political climate. While numerous allies commended Bayrou’s appointment, Carole Delga, a Socialist regional leader, described the entire process as a “bad movie”. Manuel Bompard, leader of the far-left France Unbowed (LFI), criticized it as a “pathetic spectacle”. The centre-left Socialists indicated their willingness to engage in discussions with Bayrou but stated they would not join his government. Their leader, Olivier Faure, explained that since Macron selected an individual “from his own camp”, the Socialists would maintain their position in opposition. President Macron has affirmed his commitment to serve until his second term concludes in 2027, notwithstanding Barnier’s removal last week. He concluded a trip to Poland early on Thursday and was anticipated to announce his new prime minister on Thursday evening, but delayed the announcement until Friday. Subsequently, he met with Bayrou at the Elysée Palace, and a definitive choice was reached several hours later. However, the newspaper Le Monde indicated the tense character of the negotiations, suggesting that Macron initially favored another ally, Roland Lescure, but altered his decision after Bayrou reportedly threatened to retract his party’s backing. Bayrou reached the prime minister’s official residence, Hôtel Matignon, late on Friday afternoon. A red carpet had been prepared for the transition of power even prior to the confirmation of his appointment. His primary challenge will involve establishing a government capable of avoiding the same fate as his predecessor’s, which was defeated in the National Assembly. The far-left France Unbowed (LFI) has already indicated its intention to call for a vote of no confidence at the earliest opportunity. Prior to Bayrou’s appointment, Macron conducted round-table discussions with leaders from all major political parties, excluding Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s far-left and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally. The key question is which parties can be convinced to participate in Bayrou’s government, or at minimum, agree to an arrangement to prevent his removal. According to BBC Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield, given that a minority government’s sole path to survival involves bridging divides across the political spectrum, Bayrou benefits from having acceptable relationships with both the left and the right. Michel Barnier, who was appointed just in September, stated on Friday that he recognized from the beginning that his government’s tenure was limited. His removal occurred when Marine Le Pen’s National Rally collaborated with left-wing Members of Parliament to reject his proposals for €60bn (£50bn) in increased taxes and reduced spending. His departing government has introduced legislation to allow the 2024 budget’s provisions to extend into the following year. However, a new budget for 2025 will require approval once the subsequent government assumes power. Bayrou declared that decreasing France’s deficit and debt constituted a “moral obligation”. Barnier extended his best wishes to his successor, remarking that “our country is in an unprecedented and serious situation”. Within the political framework of France’s Fifth Republic, the president is elected for a five-year term and designates a prime minister, whose proposed cabinet members are subsequently appointed by the president. Notably, President Macron initiated snap parliamentary elections during the summer following unfavorable results in the EU elections held in June. This outcome resulted in a political deadlock in France, characterized by three significant political factions: the left, the centre, and the far right. Ultimately, he selected Barnier to establish a minority government that depended on Marine Le Pen’s National Rally for its continued existence. Macron now aims to re-establish stability without relying on her political party. Three centre-left parties—the Socialists, Greens, and Communists—diverged from the more radical left LFI by participating in discussions with Macron. Nevertheless, they explicitly stated their preference for a prime minister from the left, as opposed to a centrist. Greens leader Marine Tondelier informed French TV on Thursday, “I told you I wanted someone from the left and the Greens and I think Mr Bayrou isn’t one or the other.” Patrick Kanner of the Socialists commented that his party’s decision not to join Bayrou’s government did not imply “that doesn’t mean we’re going to bash it”. Sébastien Chenu, a National Rally Member of Parliament, stated that for his party, the focus was less on Macron’s choice of individual and more on the “political line” he adopted. He added that if Bayrou intended to address immigration and the cost of living crisis, he would “find an ally in us”. The relationship between the centre-left and Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s radical LFI seems to have deteriorated following the three parties’ choice to engage in discussions with President Macron. Following the LFI leader’s appeal to his former allies to avoid a coalition agreement, Olivier Faure of the Socialists remarked on French TV that “the more Mélenchon shouts the less he’s heard”. Concurrently, Marine Le Pen has urged the incoming government to consider her party’s policies regarding the cost of living, by constructing a budget that “doesn’t cross each party’s red lines”.