François Bayrou looks back on his appointment to Matignon: Emmanuel Macron’s hesitation revealed

On Thursday, December 19, during the program L’Événement on France 2, François Bayrou revealed that Emmanuel Macron had “hesitated” to appoint him as Prime Minister on December 13.

“When you’re the President of the Republic, faced with a multitude of crises, don’t you have the right to consider several options for Matignon and hesitate between them?” he remarked, confirming that such hesitation had indeed occurred.

An appointment following an intense exchange

François Bayrou explained that an in-depth discussion took place between him and the President, during which he tried to defend his vision. “I tried to show him that another path should be considered, but in the end, he made his choice after this discussion,” he said.

The day of this appointment will be remembered for its unprecedented suspense. That Friday morning, François Bayrou arrived at the Élysée at 8:30 a.m., where Emmanuel Macron informed him that he would not be appointed Prime Minister. However, the mayor of Pau, far from resigning himself, engaged in an intense 1 hour and 45-minute dialogue with the President, during which he argued for his candidacy.

Pressure and decisions: a tense context

According to our information, the leader of the Modem reportedly suggested that if his appointment were not retained, he might consider withdrawing his party’s 36 deputies from the central bloc of the majority. Such a move would have weakened the parliamentary foundation in the National Assembly.

Finally, after two hours of uncertainty, Emmanuel Macron chose François Bayrou as Michel Barnier’s successor, tasking him with forming a new government.

A government expected before Christmas

Despite this decision, the government has yet to materialize. François Bayrou assured that he hoped to finalize its composition “over the weekend,” or at the latest before Christmas, while emphasizing that he intended to avoid using the 49.3, except in cases of absolute budgetary deadlock.

This appointment, the result of intense negotiation, reflects the complex challenges Emmanuel Macron and his government must face as they embark on this new political phase.