François Bayrou, new Prime Minister, calls for a “necessary reconciliation” for the country

Appointed Prime Minister on Friday, December 13, François Bayrou emphasized the importance of “finding a path” toward the “necessary reconciliation” of the country. Upon leaving the High Commissioner for Planning office, he told the press: “Everyone understands the difficulty of the task.” He added that the goal was to unite rather than divide, citing the historical figure of Henri IV, on whom he has “written extensively,” as a symbol of reconciliation.

A major challenge for the new Prime Minister
At 73 years old, François Bayrou, a prominent figure of the MoDem and a loyal ally of Emmanuel Macron, faces a monumental challenge. As Prime Minister, he is tasked with defusing a deep political crisis, sparked by the dissolution of the National Assembly and worsened by the censure of Michel Barnier. His appointment, announced after several hours of speculation, followed a nearly two-hour meeting at the Élysée.

This appointment comes three days after an unprecedented meeting of political leaders, excluding the National Rally and La France Insoumise, which outlined a “democratic cooperation agreement” aimed at stabilizing the situation. Under this agreement, the government commits not to use Article 49.3 to impose its laws, while the opposition agrees not to resort to censure.

A key role in restoring stability
François Bayrou, regarded as the most consensual candidate, will need to engage in dialogue with political parties, from the communist left to the right, in order to find the foundations for lasting stability. President Macron has tasked him with forming a “general interest” government, one that is more streamlined, to relaunch political action.

This nomination was welcomed by Macron’s camp but rejected by LFI, which announced it would file a motion of censure. Other left-wing parties and the National Rally have not yet announced plans for censure but are demanding changes in methods and political direction.

The handover between François Bayrou and Michel Barnier is scheduled for 5 p.m.