France’s outgoing prime minister Michel Barnier learned a hard lesson his successor should also know. There is no placating Marine Le Pen.

France’s lower house of parliament toppled the government for the first time in more than 60 years in early December, forcing President Emmanuel Macron to cast around for a prime minister who could navigate the country’s bitterly divided political landscape.

François Bayrou has been appointed on Friday as the new Prime Minister of France following the resignation of Michel Barnier. The centrist leader met with President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace early this morning to formalize his appointment.

The 73-year-old has been a well-known figure in French politics for decades - but faces a difficult battle leading France's fractured parliament.

The newly appointed prime minister, François Bayrou, begins talks with political leaders to bring together France's divided political forces and form a new government. View on euronews

The critical task of delivering a budget plan for next year falls to Eric Lombard, the new economy minister. Former Prime Minister Michel Barnier's move to push through a cost-cutting budget led to his ouster.

On Thursday, new French Prime Minister François Bayrou united party leaders to talk about shaping a new government. The broad scope of the meeting conveys Bayrou’s vision of a more centrist France — a feat in a country where political extremes tend to be the loudest voices in the room.

France’s new premier Francois Bayrou vowed to sharply narrow the nation’s deficit to close to 5% of GDP, a plan that threatens a repeat of the stand-off which toppled the last government.

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Francois Bayrou as his new prime minister, marking his sixth appointment. The government aims to address political and economic challenges. Two former prime ministers join the cabinet,

President Emmanuel Macron appointed Eric Lombard as France’s finance minister, tapping an experienced finance professional as part of a new cabinet that also returned two former prime ministers to government.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced a new government Monday, after the previous Cabinet collapsed in a historic vote prompted by fighting over the country’s budget. The government, put together by newly named Prime Minister Francois Bayrou,