Media reported Macron's reluctance to appoint Bayrou as prime minister

French President Emmanuel Macron did not want to appoint 73-year-old leader of the centrist "Democratic Movement" Francois Bayrou as the new Prime Minister. This was reported on December 17 by the publication Politico.

It is noted that Macron was going to appoint another candidate, but "could not say no" to the leader of the centrist movement.

"The French president "cannot say no" to Bayrou. It was hard for Macron, Bayrou is the only person in Paris to whom he is indebted," Politico quoted a centrist parliamentary adviser as saying.

Also, according to two people familiar with the situation, outgoing Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu and former Industry Minister Roland Lescure were being considered as possible candidates for prime minister.

As the publication noted, the appointment of François Bayrou as prime minister is seen as "another sign of how weakened Macron has become."

Confidence lost: the French government will resign for the first time since 1962

The president can appoint a new prime minister within 24 hours

Earlier, on December 4, the French National Assembly (lower house of parliament) passed a resolution of no confidence in the government of Michel Barnier. 331 deputies voted in favor of the vote of no confidence. Nicolas Dupont-Eignan, leader of the party "Rise, France" called the reason for the loss of confidence in Macron the financial chaos and his commitment to US President Joe Biden.

The next day, during an address to the nation, Macron said he would not leave the presidency until the end of his term in 2027. On the same day, he accepted Prime Minister Barnier's petition to resign from the government following a vote of no confidence from parliament.

Later, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, founder of the Unconquered France party, said Macron did not understand how parliament works. According to Mélenchon, the French president should resign in order for the people to go to the presidential election.