France's Macron names centrist ally Bayrou as PM

Paris: President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named centrist Francois Bayrou as prime minister, handing him the daunting task of hauling France out of mo...

Paris: President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named centrist Francois Bayrou as prime minister, handing him the daunting task of hauling France out of months of political crisis.

The 73-year-old head of the MoDem group which is allied to Macron's party, was appointed nine days after parliament ousted Michel Barnier's government in a historic no-confidence vote following a standoff over an austerity budget.

"The president of the Republic has appointed Mr. Francois Bayrou as prime minister and tasked him with forming a government," the presidency said.

The announcement capped hours of drama that saw Bayrou summoned to a morning meeting at the Elysee palace -- where he was reportedly told Macron would choose another figure -- only for the presidency to finally announce he had the post.

Bayrou is the sixth prime minister of Macron's mandate, with his predecessor Barnier France's shortest-serving premier having lasted only three months.