French President Macron names Francois Bayrou as new prime minister

By Nur Asena Erturk

The French president on Friday named Francois Bayrou as the country’s the new prime minister, the presidency said on X, over a week after parliament voted to oust Premier Michel Barnier and his government through a no-confidence vote.

Emmanuel Macron named a new premier in hopes of forming a new government and extricating the country from the political crisis it has been facing since June.

After days of talks with some political parties, Macron also held consultations early Friday morning, and met with Bayrou, 73, for nearly an hour and 45 minutes, sources told broadcaster BFMTV.

"The president named Mr. Francois Bayrou as prime minister, and tasked him to form a government," the presidency wrote on X.

The handover ceremony from Barnier, currently caretaker prime minister, is expected later in the day, BFMTV also said.