After days of intense political stalemate, French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed his centrist ally, François Bayrou, as the new prime minister.
Bayrou, 73, a prominent figure in the centre-right Democratic Movement (MoDem) party, steps in to replace Michel Barnier. Barnier resigned last week following a dramatic confidence vote in the lower house of parliament, where 331 of the 577 legislators, spanning both left and right, voted for his removal.
The shake-up marks a pivotal moment in Macron’s administration, as he seeks to stabilize the government amidst mounting political divisions and legislative challenges.
