French President Emmanuel Macron appointed François Bayrou as the new prime minister on Friday, following the resignation of Michel Barnier.
Bayrou, a 73-year-old centrist ally, replaces Barnier after the government was ousted by a parliamentary vote last week. Barnier's administration had tried to pass a trimmed-down social security budget to address France's large deficit, which led to the collapse of his government.
Bayrou, a long-standing figure in French politics and a key partner in Macron’s centrist alliance, is expected to form his government in the coming days. His political experience is seen as vital in stabilizing the country, given that no single party holds a majority in the National Assembly.
Macron, who reaffirmed his commitment to serve until 2027, aims to restore stability amid ongoing political challenges. Bayrou was recently cleared of embezzlement charges related to European Parliament funds.
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