President Macron names centrist ally Bayrou as France's next prime minister

France's newly appointed Prime Minister and President of the Democratic Movement (MoDem) party Francois Bayrou looks on during a handover ceremony at the Hotel Matignon in Paris on Dec. 13, 2024.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named centrist ally François Bayrou as prime minister in an effort to address the country's deep political crisis, after a historic parliamentary vote ousted the previous government last week.