President Macron appoints centrist Bayrou as new Prime Minister in an attempt to end France’s political turmoil. The move comes after the previous prime minister, Michel Barnier, was voted out due to his plans for €60bn in tax rises and spending cuts being rejected by left-wing MPs.
The French government has collapsed in a no-confidence vote, leading to a period of political instability. President Macron is seeking to restore stability by appointing a new prime minister.
The previous prime minister, Michel Barnier, was voted out after his plans for €60bn (£50bn) in tax rises and spending cuts were rejected by the National Rally and left-wing MPs.
Jean-Yves Le Drian, former foreign minister, turned down the job due to his age (in his late 70s).
The French government is based on the Fifth Republic system, where the president is elected for five years and appoints a prime minister.
Unusually, President Macron called snap elections for parliament over the summer after poor results in the EU elections in June.
The outcome left France in political stalemate, with three large political blocs made up of the left, centre, and far right.
Marine Le Pen has called for her party’s policies on the cost of living to be taken into account by the incoming government.
She wants a budget that ‘doesn’t cross each party’s red lines’.
Three centre-left parties (Socialists, Greens, and Communists) have broken ranks with the more radical left LFI and are participating in talks on forming a new government.
They want to see a leftist prime minister of their choice if they join a broad-based government.
Relations between the centre-left and radical LFI appear to have broken down over the three parties’ decision to pursue talks with President Macron.
The LFI leader, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, has called on his former allies to steer clear of a coalition deal.
The new prime minister, François Bayrou, will face challenges in restoring stability and building a budget that meets the demands of various parties.
The future of the French government remains uncertain as different factions continue to negotiate and make demands.
French media outlets have reported that former foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has turned down the position of prime minister due to his age. This decision comes after Michel Barnier was voted out in a no-confidence vote, with left-wing MPs rejecting his plans for €60bn (£50bn) in tax rises and spending cuts.
Under the Fifth Republic, the president is elected for five years and appoints a prime minister whose choice of cabinet is then appointed by the president. President Macron called snap elections for parliament over the summer after poor results in the EU elections in June, leaving France in political stalemate with three large political blocs made up of the left, centre, and far right.
The previous government, formed by Michel Barnier, relied on Marine Le Pen’s National Rally for its survival. However, this alliance has now fallen apart, and Macron is seeking to restore stability without depending on her party.
The incoming government will have to address the country’s budget deficit, which is set to hit 6.1% of economic output (GDP) this year. Marine Le Pen has called for her party’s policies on the cost of living to be taken into account by the incoming government, suggesting a budget that ‘doesn’t cross each party’s red lines’.
