Summary

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed centrist François Bayrou as the new prime minister after a no-confidence vote ousted Michel Barnier’s government.

Bayrou, founder of the Democratic Movement party, faces the challenge of uniting a fractured parliament to pass an unpopular 2025 cost-cutting budget, which led to Barnier’s downfall.

Barnier, ousted after just three months, was criticized for bypassing parliament.

Bayrou must form a cabinet and navigate political tensions to avoid another government collapse, which could endanger Macron’s presidency amid calls for new elections.