France’s new prime minister, François Bayrou, says he hopes to name a government to lead the country out of its political quagmire by Christmas at the latest. France urgently needs to approve a state budget as official data on Friday showed public debt has climbed to €3.3 trillion.
France was plunged into fresh chaos earlier this month after the far right and left wing joined forces to eject Bayrou's predecessor, Michel Barnier, after just three months in office.