French Prime Minister François Bayrou aims to announce his new administration “before Christmas,” as France grapples with a budget crisis and political instability.
The country awaits its fourth government in 2024 after the downfall of Michel Barnier’s short-lived conservative-led administration earlier this month.
Bayrou, a 73-year-old centrist, faces the immediate challenge of securing a budget and surviving a no-confidence vote, while striving to form a broad coalition across the political spectrum to avoid further censure.
President Emmanuel Macron, returning from a visit to cyclone-hit Mayotte, held consultations with Bayrou over the weekend. However, the announcement of the new cabinet has been delayed, leaving the nation in suspense.
Macron’s snap election gamble earlier this year backfired, leaving France with a fragmented parliament. Bayrou’s government will need to address a precarious financial situation while navigating the political deadlock that has gripped the country.
Bayrou’s tumultuous start includes widespread criticism and historically low approval ratings, with only 34% expressing satisfaction in a recent poll. With hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon already planning a no-confidence motion, Bayrou’s premiership hangs by a thread. He has warned of dire consequences if his government fails, calling this “the last stop before the cliff.”
