The appointment of François Bayrou to Matignon is that of a leading, experienced politician who has weighed heavily on presidential elections. She is an independent figure who has regularly made her distinct voice heard. She is a true Prime Minister who will fully exercise the powers conferred upon her by the Constitution.
Nevertheless, it does not resolve, by itself, the issue of the paralysis of the National Assembly. Indeed, it is rather likely to antagonise the Republicans. It is a slap for Nicolas Sarkozy, relations between the two men being dreadful, with the former President blaming the new Prime Minister for his defeat against François Hollande in 2012. The Republicans had believed, through an extremely favourable turn of events, that they had a grip on events. They are brought back to the sad reality barely more than a million votes, 47 MPs. These figures would have been halved in the absence of the Republican Front between the two rounds. The French right-wing needs a complete overhaul, which it refuses to undertake, contenting itself with offices, desks, chauffeurs and other minor perks of no importance.
The Socialist Party's attitude will be crucial. François Bayrou is closer to this party than to the populist right. Will the PS dare to break away from La France Insoumise when this cobbled-together alliance allowed it to win a number of MPs far greater than its electoral base?
The RN did not voice any opposition Given François Bayrou's long-standing attachment to proportional representation as well as his recent stance on the case of the fake jobs of National Rally (RN) assistants in the European Parliament. Nevertheless, the points of convergence on substance are virtually non-existent. No prior censorship, but what about the long term?
Forming the government is going to be a real test. Can we hope for experienced ministers with a genuine track record, rather than unknowns placed here and there to please this or that bigwig? Perhaps. There is an imperative of credibility.
This is Emmanuel Macron's last-chance government who brought back the governmental instability of the Fourth Republic.
French 
English 
Chinese 
Arabic