François Bayrou has been appointed as France’s new Prime Minister, a role he has long anticipated. His selection comes amid a government crisis, with Emmanuel Macron seeking to restore trust. Bayrou, a centrist politician with a rich political history, was chosen for his ability to engage across party lines. Tasked with navigating the political landscape and forming a supportive cabinet, he faces challenges from both right-wing and leftist factions while managing ongoing legal issues.
Indeed, the moment has arrived for François Bayrou, as he steps into the role of the new Prime Minister of France. His appointment has been highly anticipated, yet it only partially came as a surprise. The centrist politician from the Pyrenees has been awaiting this pinnacle of his extensive political journey for quite some time.
Though Bayrou is affiliated with a smaller party, the Mouvement démocrate (Modem), his name resonates across France. For the past two decades, he has been a prominent figure in discussions surrounding the selection of a new Prime Minister. Representing the provincial bourgeois center, Bayrou has been an essential player in French politics, one that no leader could afford to overlook. Despite numerous attempts to ascend to the highest echelons of power and facing setbacks along the way, he has continued to be a significant presence. Skeptics had dismissed him, particularly considering he is now 73 years old.
A Strategic Move Amidst Crisis
In the current government crisis, Bayrou might be the final strategic move for Emmanuel Macron, aimed at rebuilding trust in his administration. French media, ever eager for insights, interpreted every gesture from the president as a sign of Bayrou’s impending appointment. Reports indicated that Macron had engaged in multiple conversations with his mentor and even invited him for discussions at the Élysée Palace, making it somewhat predictable that Bayrou would be the chosen candidate.
Finding an ideal successor to Michel Barnier, who resigned under opposition pressure, proved challenging due to the complex political landscape of the National Assembly, which currently lacks a governing majority. As evidenced by Barnier’s experience, any minority government can only survive through the goodwill of either the right or segments of the left.
Interestingly, Bayrou’s selection was not driven by overwhelming positivity; instead, he emerged as the candidate with the fewest negative reactions from both sides of the political spectrum. Known for his ability to engage in dialogue with various factions, he has more experience than his predecessor Barnier in negotiating with allies and adversaries alike at all levels of governance.
Born in 1951 in the Béarn region of the French Basque Country, Bayrou remains deeply connected to his roots. After studying literature, he began his career as a middle school teacher before entering politics as a teenager in the “Centre des démocrates sociaux.” Rapidly climbing the ranks, he secured his first deputy mandate in 1986 after notable local and regional electoral successes. From 1993 to 1997, he served as Minister of Education, later becoming an EU Member of Parliament and leading his centrist party. Since 2014, he has also held the position of mayor of Pau, near his birthplace.
As a leading figure among centrist Democrats, Bayrou has historically challenged figures like Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy. He has run for the presidency three times and famously supported Socialist François Hollande in the 2012 elections, a move that did not sit well with Sarkozy. Since 2016, he has lent his support to Macron, gaining recognition as a “kingmaker” in the political arena.
Although expected to receive a significant role following Macron’s victory, Bayrou was appointed as Minister of Justice but was forced to resign after just five weeks due to an investigation concerning the misappropriation of EU funds. He was accused of misusing funds meant for parliamentary assistants to finance his party.
Acquitted in February 2024, Bayrou has maintained his presumption of innocence. However, ongoing legal proceedings continue to loom over him. His position as head of the planning commission has often invited skepticism, with political journalists questioning the relevance of his role in a market-oriented republic.
Despite the doubts surrounding his promotion to Prime Minister and the potential for legal troubles, Bayrou has a daunting task ahead. His mission to navigate France out of the political turmoil is complicated by demands from the right-wing Rassemblement national and threats from the extreme left led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who is eager to initiate a vote of no confidence against him.
First and foremost, Bayrou must assemble a cabinet capable of garnering widespread support in the Assemblée nationale. Unlike Barnier, who struggled to establish a governing coalition, Bayrou’s focus will likely be on securing a majority, necessitating collaboration with not only centrist parties but also moderate left and conservative factions. Time is of the essence, as the draft for the 2025 state budget must be expedited and voted on before the year’s end.