Democratic Movement

President Emmanuel Macron and new Prime Minister Francois Bayrou kept the country waiting Sunday over the composition of the fourth government in a year that must drag France out of political crisis.

France’s new Prime Minister is what in Greece we call an “old hand” in politics. Having served in various ministries and under different governments, François Bayrou has played an important role in policy-making from both the right and the centre.

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) poses with French President of the Modem party Francois Bayrou and mayor of Pau Francois Bayrou (L) on the balcony of the city hall during a visit in Pau, southwestern France, on July 6, 2023

The French president’s close ally, centrist François Bayrou, whose name is often mentioned to succeed caretaker Prime Minister Michel Barnier, was expected at the presidential palace for a meeting with Emmanuel Macron around 08:30 local time (09:30 GMT), according to sources close to the consultations.

Senate President and Chairman of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE, minor at rule, ed.n.) Calin Popescu-Tariceanu does not rule out the possibility of forming another electoral alliance if the Social Democratic Party (PSD, major at rule, ed.n.) and ALDE will not have a joint candidate in the presidential elections.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has named a group of relative unknowns to senior government cabinet posts over traditional allies after a series of high-profile resignations.

As a spokesman announced the names of ministers appointed, political analysts said many voters would be left asking: “Who?”

President Emmanuel Macron's allies from the under-fire MoDem party quit the government, complicating what had been billed as a routine ministerial reshuffle days after his party emphatically won parliamentary elections.

France's justice minister Francois Bayrou, a key ally of President Emmanuel Macron, told AFP Wednesday he was quitting the government, as his party battles a funding scandal.

French Defense Minister Sylvie Goulard announced her resignation yesterday over a fake jobs scandal that has hit her small centrist MoDem party, allied with President Emmanuel Macron's party.