Macron ally François Bayrou appointed new French prime minister
GuardianDec 13
Macron Names Veteran Centrist Bayrou as Fourth French PM of 2024
Above: Francois Bayrou, France's incoming prime minister, during the handover ceremony at the Hotel Matignon in Paris, France, on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. Image copyright: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg/Contributor via Getty Images
The Facts
On Friday, Pres. Emmanuel Macron appointed François Bayrou, founder of the centrist Democratic Movement (MoDem) party, as France's fourth prime minister of 2024 following Michel Barnier's ouster through a no-confidence vote.
Bayrou's appointment comes as parliament is divided between three main blocs — the left alliance, Macron's centrists, and the right-wing National Rally — following inconclusive snap elections in June.
The Spin
Left narrative
The appointment of Bayrou, a close Macron ally, represents a mere continuity of the president's deeply unpopular policies. It also ignores the summer election results that saw the left alliance win the most votes, potentially worsening the political and institutional crisis.
Right narrative
This marks a clear next step in Macron's strategy to prevent National Rally's Marine Le Pen from gaining power. Bayrou remains little more than a mouthpiece for the pro-EU ruling elite, offering no fresh perspectives on the pressing crises facing France. Instead, he brings a readiness to align with the president.
Pro-establishment narrative
Bayrou's extensive political experience and reputation for compromise make him ideally suited to unite France's divided parliament and defend national interests during this critical period, while his centrist position could help build crucial stability for Macron.
