Macron names ally Francois Bayrou as France’s new prime minister to try to end political chaos
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Mr Bayrou, 73, is expected to put forward his list of ministers in the coming days but is likely to face the same existential difficulties as Mr Barnier did in steering legislation through a hung parliament comprising three warring blocs, a left-wing alliance, the far-right National Rally party of Marine Le Pen and Mr Macron’s centrist bloc. Mr Macron had courted the party during his search for a prime minister, but they accused the president of ignoring their demands for a leftist leader in favour of a "risky" ally. Jordan Bardella, president of National Rally, said it would not be calling for an immediate no-confidence motion, while fellow RN leader Marine Le Pen said Mr Bayrou should listen to the opposition's budgetary wishes. Mr Macron appointed Mr Bayrou as justice minister in 2017 but he resigned only weeks later amid an investigation into his party's alleged fraudulent employment of parliamentary assistants.