France’s new PM François Bayrou meets party leaders to form government.
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.
France’s new Prime Minister, François Bayrou, who replaces Michel Barnier, began consultations with representatives of the main political parties at the National Assembly as part of efforts to form a new government.
Bayrou’s first meeting is with far-right National Rally (RN) leaders Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen, who criticised his appointment but said RN MPs would not block the government without reviewing its proposals.
He will then meet Gabriel Attal of the Renaissance party, followed by Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure and others. Later, Laurent Wauquiez of the conservative Droite Républicaine will meet Bayrou, who said his party’s support depends on the government’s plans.
The far-left party, La France Insoumise, has refused the invitation. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, its veteran leader, dismissed the talks as “just another comedy.”
Discussions will continue on Tuesday with leaders of other groups, including the Greens, members of Bayrou’s MoDem party, Horizons, Independents (LIOT), Communists, and the UDR group led by Éric Ciotti, former Republican Party president.
2025 budget tops agenda
The 2025 budget is set to be a key topic in discussions between the new prime minister and political leaders, as it was a major factor in the downfall of Michel Barnier’s government earlier this month.
Former Prime Minister Barnier used a special constitutional measure to push through a controversial budget for Social Security in 2025 without Parliament’s approval.
The move sparked outrage from both the far-right and left-wing parties, which joined forces in a rare alliance to pass a no-confidence vote on 4 December, toppling the government.
With no approved budget for 2025, a special bill has been introduced to ensure the country’s essential services remain uninterrupted. The proposed measures include tax increases, spending based on the 2024 budget, and additional borrowing by the government and Social Security.
MPs will begin reviewing the bill on Monday, with some pushing for changes to link income tax rates to inflation to protect taxpayers from rising costs in 2025. After the parliamentary debate, the Senate is scheduled to examine the text on Wednesday.
