Prime Minister François Bayrou forms new government in France

A new government has been formed in France.

Alexis Kohler, Secretary-General of the Élysée Palace, announced that Bayrou, who was appointed prime minister from the center-right Democratic Movement (MoDem) party and has been conducting negotiations with political parties for 10 days, has formed his new government.

In Bayrou's new cabinet, former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has been appointed Minister of Education, while another former prime minister, Manuel Valls, has been appointed Minister of Overseas Territories. Eric Lombard has become Minister of Finance, former Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has been appointed Minister of Justice, Catherine Vautrin has become Minister of Health, Laurent Marcangeli has been appointed Minister of Public Service, Annie Genevard has become Minister of Agriculture, Marie Barsacq has been appointed Minister of Sports and Youth, and François Rebsamen has become Minister of the Environment.

Meanwhile, Minister of Defense Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau, and Minister of Culture Rachida Dati have retained their positions in the cabinet.

CLAIMS THAT THE NEW GOVERNMENT ALSO RECEIVED THE "APPROVAL" OF THE FAR-RIGHT

While the Michel Barnier government, which was toppled by a motion of no confidence, was criticized for having the implicit support of the far-right, discussions regarding whether the new government also passed the approval of the far-right have emerged on social media.

Xavier Bertrand, President of the Hauts-de-France Region and a former minister whose name was mentioned for the new cabinet, claimed in a post on his X account that Bayrou had offered him the position of Minister of Justice, but later informed him that he had decided against appointing him to this post due to opposition from the far-right National Rally (RN) party.

Noting that he was offered a new position in the cabinet instead of the Ministry of Justice but that he did not accept it, Bertrand stated, "Despite their new offers, I refuse to join a French government formed with the approval of (far-right leader) Marine Le Pen."

French politicians, who reacted to the fact that the far-right remains "influential" in the new government despite not being part of it, supported Bertrand's post.

BAYROU'S APPOINTMENT AS PRIME MINISTER

In the early general elections held in France in June, no party or alliance reached the majority required to form a government alone, resulting in the most fragmented parliamentary landscape in the country's history.

Macron appointed center-right Michel Barnier from The Republicans (LR), the smallest party in parliament, as prime minister on September 5, instead of the leftist New Popular Front (NFP) alliance that won the election, and a government could only be formed in the country about 3 months after the elections.

However, the Barnier government, which included no names from the NFP, the winner of the election, or the far-right National Rally (RN), the largest party in parliament, was described as a "government of those who lost the election" and was criticized for not reflecting the popular will.

Leftists and far-rightists in the opposition, who could not reach a consensus on the 2025 budget bill, had submitted a motion of no confidence against the already fragile Barnier government.

The motion received the support of 331 deputies, thus exceeding the 288 required to topple the government. For the first time in 62 years, a government in the country was toppled by an opposition motion of no confidence.

Following the toppling of the center-right Barnier government in France on December 4 by the motion of no confidence submitted by the opposition, Bayrou was appointed prime minister by Macron on December 13.

While the threat of an opposition motion of no confidence continues against the Bayrou government, which includes no names from the NFP, the winner of the early general elections, or the RN, the largest party in parliament, it is stated that the minority Bayrou government may not be long-lived, just like its predecessor, the Barnier government.