French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed his third prime minister this year, after the two previous heads of government resigned after just months in office.
Veteran centrist Francois Bayrou was announced as the new premier on Friday after a “tense” two-hour meeting with Macron, Politico reported. The 73-year-old politician, who is a former presidential candidate, will now try to steer France out of a political and budgetary quagmire.
“The president of the Republic has appointed Mr Francois Bayrou as prime minister and tasked him with forming a government,” the French presidency said.
Bayrou’s predecessor, Michel Barnier, had been in office for just over three months. He resigned on December 5 after losing a no-confidence motion in parliament.