Who is Francois Bayrou, France’s new prime minister?
Al Jazeera
The 73-year-old centrist and leader of the Democratic Movement will replace Michel Barnier, who lost a confidence vote in parliament.
French President Emmanuel Macron has named centrist ally Francois Bayrou as prime minister after several days of tense political gridlock.
The 73-year-old from the centre-right Democratic Movement, or MoDem, party will replace Michel Barnier, who resigned last week after losing a confidence vote in the lower house of parliament. Of the 577 legislators, 331 from both the left and the right voted to remove him.
The fall of Barnier’s government, which took office after snap elections in June and July, has not only thrown France into political chaos but has also led to calls by opposition party leaders for Macron’s resignation as well. Many politicians and people in France have been unhappy with the president’s policies for years.
While Macron has said he will continue as president until his mandate ends in 2027, will his new pick, Bayrou, and his government last?
Here is what we know:
