French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed centrist ally Francois Bayrou as prime minister in an effort to address the political crisis that has been challenging his authority. Bayrou, a 73-year-old centrist politician and founder of the Democratic Movement political party (MoDem), has previously run for president three times and has now been tasked with forming a new government.
The appointment comes after the former prime minister, Michel Barnier, lost a vote of no confidence and was forced to resign. Barnier's minority government fell apart as it attempted to pass a 2025 budget that included significant tax hikes, leading to opposition from both left-wing and far-right blocs in parliament.
