President Emmanuel Macron has nominated first minister Francois Bayrou his centrist ally since 2017. The news of the appointment was formalized in a statement from the Elysée, a text of just a few lines in which Bayrou was entrusted with the mandate of “form the new government”. The transfer of power is expected shortly in the courtyard of Matignon, between the resigning prime minister, Michel Barnier, and his successor.
The passage ceremony of powers in Matignon between the resigning Prime Minister Michel Barnier and the newly appointed Prime Minister Francois Bayrou will be held today at 5pm. “It’s a long journey. Now the problems begin, but reconciliation is necessary”, were Bayrou’s first words . The new prime minister immediately recognized the “difficulty of the task” that awaits him, underlining that “there are ways to find to bring together instead of dividing”. The centrist leader, recalling that today marks the anniversary of the birth of Henry IV, highlighted that “reconciliation is necessary”.
“When one takes a long journey and knows where he is going, not a minute is wasted. I am not the first to have taken a long journey”, continued Bayrou, a solid ally of Macron, quoting the words of the former president socialist Francois Mitterrand, newly elected in May 1981. “The trouble finally begins,” said Bayrou, in a quote interpreted as a possible opening towards left-wing forces.
How investors responded
The Paris stock exchange reverses course and, after starting in negative territory, rises a few minutes after the appointment of Bayrou as the new prime minister. The Cac 40 index advanced by 0.34% to 7,445.52 points. On the other hand, the yield on French OATs rose to 3.013% while the differential with German Bunds stood at 77.3 points.
The political reactions
Bardella, there will be no a priori censorship
Jordan Bardella assures that “there will be no a priori censorship” of Rn. The party president still invites the new prime minister to “take into consideration the new political situation” and to “understand that he has neither democratic legitimacy nor a majority in the National Assembly, which presupposes a dialogue with all the forces represented in Parliament, reports BfmTv.
Insoumis motion of no confidence against Bayrou
The radical left of the Insoumis (LFI) has announced a motion of no confidence against the new Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, contesting the choice of President Emmanuel Macron.
“Another candidacy for the extension of Emmanuel Macron. Two clear choices are available to the country: the continuity of the policy of misfortune with Francois Bayrou or the rupture,” said Mathilde Panot of Lfi. In a message published on
Marine Le Pen, exponent of Macronism
For far-right leader Marine Le Pen, the new Prime Minister Francois Bayrou is a potential “extension of Macronism” that “can only lead to impasse”. Critical reaction from Le Pen, even though the president of her RN party, Jordan Bardella, has already assured that “there will not be an a priori motion of no confidence” against the centrist Bayrou.
“After a long wait, the President of the Republic has decided to appoint Francois Bayrou to Matignon. Concerned about the urgency of protecting the French, we ask him to undertake what his predecessor did not want to do: listen and listen to the opposition to build a reasonable and considered budget”, wrote Le Pen on far right.
The Socialists will remain in opposition
President Macron should have appointed a left-wing Prime Minister. We will therefore remain in opposition. We ask for a change in method and political direction that will determine our positioning. We ask Francois Bayrou to receive the NFP parties and the republican front”. This was stated in an official note by the French Socialist Party.