France’s Macron names centrist ally Francois Bayrou as prime minister

President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named centrist leader Francois Bayrou as prime minister, handing him the daunting task of hauling France out of months of political crisis.

Bayrou, the 73-year-old head of the MoDem group which is allied to Macron’s party, was appointed nine days after Michel Barnier’s government was ousted by parliament in a historic no-confidence vote following a stand-off over an austerity budget.

“The President of the Republic has appointed Mr Francois Bayrou as prime minister and tasked him with forming a government,” the French presidency said in a statement, giving no more details.

Bayrou’s appointment immediately sparked criticism, with the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party and the Greens threatening to back a new motion of censure.

Bayrou is the sixth prime minister of Macron’s mandate after last week’s toppling of Barnier, who became France’s shortest-serving prime minister and lasted only three months.

He is also Macron’s fourth prime minister of 2024.