New prime minister of France named: François Bayrou; learn about his plans and future actions.
Francois Bayrou Steps into the Hotseat as France's Prime Minister
In a surprising turn of events, seasoned centrist, Francois Bayrou, has taken over as the Prime Minister of France, following the collapse of Michel Barnier's short-lived minority coalition. This shift comes after Barnier invoked special powers to enact his 2025 austerity budget without parliamentary approval, ultimately leading to a no-confidence vote.
Now, at the ripe age of 73, Bayrou, who once helped Emmanuel Macron secure the presidential election in 2017 and ran for presidency three times himself, faces an uphill battle. His inauguration was met with less than favorable market conditions, with Moody's downgrading France's credit rating only hours into his tenure. The downgrade was a direct result of political instability, which is expected to make it difficult for France to tackle its deficit. Investors' uncertainty has already sent France's ten-year borrowing costs soaring above 3% this year.
But don't count Bayrou out just yet. Known for his bridge-building instincts, he commands respect across the political spectrum. However, the National Assembly remains gridlocked by the same three-bloc impasse: Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally, Macron's pro-business allies, and the New Popular Front, a left-wing alliance. Before Bayrou can outline a new budget, he must navigate the tricky task of forming a viable government.
Macron has been holding talks with parties from the center-left and center-right to expand the outgoing conservative-centrist coalition, but progress has been modest. The Socialists, who hold 66 seats, have only offered a vague commitment not to oust Bayrou immediately.
So, will Bayrou's government mark a shift to the left? Macron's stubborn refusal to appoint a leftist prime minister, despite the New Popular Front securing the most seats in last summer's snap elections, suggests he is determined to preserve his legacy. The far-left France Unbowed has already vowed to table a motion of no-confidence when Bayrou's new government is appointed. While Le Pen may not support the motion this time, Bayrou will be eager to reach a truce with the Socialists and Greens to secure a majority and bypass the opposition blocs.
The budget is another area of concern. France remains stubbornly attached to its social-security provisions and generous state allowances, which have shielded the population from economic realities, resulting in a burdensome tax load. Many still bristle at Macron for increasing the pension age from 62 to 64, despite it being one of the lowest in Europe. Balancing the budget while keeping the masses content will be a delicate task indeed.
One thing is for certain – Bayrou's tenure promises to be a rollercoaster ride, filled with political maneuvering, potential instability, and tough economic decisions. Whether he manages to chart a course through France's treacherous political waters remains to be seen.
Footnotes:
[1] – The French far-right threatens political instability (Source: Reuters, June 13, 2025)[2] – Socialist Party files no-confidence motion against Bayrou's government (Source: Le Monde, June 15, 2025)[3] – Bayrou's broken promises may lead to government collapse (Source: The Guardian, June 17, 2025)[4] – France on the brink: Political instability threatens the country's future (Source: CNN, June 19, 2025)[5] – Pension reform fails after conclave negotiations (Source: France 24, June 20, 2025)
As Francois Bayrou steps into the political hotseat as France's Prime Minister, his tenure is expected to be filled with challenges, such as crafting a new budget and navigating the tricky task of forming a viable government amidst political instability. Additionally, subscribers of a newsletter focused on policy-and-legislation, personal finance, general-news, and politics might be interested to find updates about the impact of the ongoing political maneuvering on France's economy, especially concerning issues like the country's social security provisions and burdensome tax load.
