President Emmanuel Macron has appointed centrist François Bayrou as France’s new prime minister, replacing Michel Barnier, who stepped down after a no-confidence vote.
Bayrou’s appointment comes as Macron faces growing pressure to bridge the deep divides in parliament. The country’s budget deficit has surged to 6.1%, well beyond expectations, and a stopgap budget will be debated next month.
Macron met with party leaders for two days to find a candidate who can unite the political spectrum, excluding the far-right National Rally and hard-left France Unbowed. Bayrou now faces the tough task of pushing through next year’s budget and restoring balance in the French economy.
