Senior politicians in France gave a mixed reaction on Friday to the appointment of centrist François Bayrou as prime minister, just over a week after the fall of the previous government.
Last Wednesday, the opposition brought down conservative former premier Michel Barnier in a dispute over an austerity budget, only three months after he took office.
This left French President Emmanuel Macron having to find a new prime minister, but it is not yet clear whether Bayrou will enjoy more support than his predecessor.
The national coordinator for the left-wing La France Insoumise party, Manuel Bompard, immediately announced that he wanted a vote of no confidence in the new premier, saying that Bayrou had to be removed from office so that Macron could also be forced out.
The head of the greens, Marine Tondelier, told broadcaster BFMTV there would be a vote of no confidence if Macron continued to pursue his current policies with the new premier and tried to keep certain key ministers in office.
Jordan Bardella, head of the far-right National Rally (RN), said that his party was not initially planning to oust Bayrou, and RN parliamentary leader Marine Le Pen called on the new premier to listen to the opposition and draw up a reasonable budget.
The Socialists said that while they would not be joining the new government, they would refrain from putting forward a vote of no confidence, provided that Bayrou did not make himself dependent on the right-wing nationalists and sought consensus on budgetary issues.
France has been politically deadlocked since elections held in June and July failed to produce a clear result. At the same time, the country is facing a critical economic situation amid soaring national debt and a large budgetary deficit.
Opposition parties have demanded Macron resign amid the political and economic crisis, with a 2025 budget still not approved just weeks before the new year. Macron has refused to step down.
Complicated balance of power
There are three main camps of roughly equal size that do not have a majority in the National Assembly: the left-wing camp of Socialists, Communists, greens and populists; Macron’s centrist forces; and the right-wing nationalists led by Le Pen.
The unlikely bedfellows of the left-wing camp and the right-wing nationalists combined to bring down Barnier’s government.
Bayrou will be tasked with forming a government that brings in as many parties as possible.
While they are not likely to establish a formal coalition, they will be expected to cooperate to the extent of not immediately throwing out the new government over passing a budget.
Following his appointment, Bayrou said he wants to overcome the divisions in French society and “tear down the glass wall that has been erected between citizens and power.”
Nevertheless, he said that he was aware of the challenges ahead. “Nobody knows more than I do how difficult the situation is,” Bayrou added.
A new parliamentary election cannot be held until a year after the last vote in July, according to France’s constitution.
Macron has vowed to serve out his five-year term, due to end in 2027. He has said that it is his responsibility to ensure the proper functioning of state institutions, the independence of the country and the protection of the population.
He has accused the far left and the far right of damaging the republic.
France’s newly appointed Prime Minister François Bayrou (R) and outgoing Prime Minister Michel Barnier (L) address the outgoing cabinet, staff, and media during the handover ceremony at the Hotel de Matignon. Thomas Samson/AFP/dpa
