French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed François Bayrou as the new Prime Minister, the Elysée Palace announced on Friday.
Bayrou is a 73-year-old centrist politician and has previously held several key government positions, including Minister for National Education. He was an MEP from 1999 to 2002.
His appointment is seen as a move to unify the centrist bloc. Macron appointed another centrist politician Michel Barnier as Prime Minister in September, but Barnier's government fell after a vote of no confidence on 5 December. This was the first time French MPs had toppled their own government since 1962.
Macron himself has been under pressure to resign following a string of extremely unpopular decisions, but he says he will see his presidential term through until it ends in May 2027.
Further details on Bayrou's policy agenda and cabinet appointments are expected in the coming days.
