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French president names Francois Bayrou as new prime minister

Bayrou, aged 73, takes over from Michel Barnier, who also shares the same age and stepped down after France’s lower house passed a successful no-confidence motion against his cabinet on December 4

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou Caroline Blumberg, pool via AP

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou

© Caroline Blumberg, pool via AP

PARIS, December 13. /TASS/. French President Emmanuel Macron has officially appointed Francois Bayrou, leader of the centrist Democratic Movement political party, as the nation's prime minister, the Elysee Palace announced in a statement.

"The President of the Republic has designated Francois Bayrou as prime minister and entrusted him with forming a new government," the statement said.

Bayrou, aged 73, takes over from Michel Barnier, who also shares the same age and stepped down after France’s lower house passed a successful no-confidence motion against his cabinet on December 4.

The Democratic Movement leader becomes France’s fourth prime minister in 2024, following the terms of Elisabeth Borne, Gabriel Attal, and Barnier.

Bayrou has been at the helm of the Democratic Movement since 2007. In 2014, he assumed the role of mayor in Pau, a city in southwestern France. Additionally, he has chaired the National Council for Refoundation since 2020. Bayrou is also a seasoned presidential candidate, having run for the French presidency in 2002, 2007, and 2012. In 2017, however, he opted not to run, endorsing Macron.

Middle East conflict

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Items of interest to the investigation were seized from the car

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Putin orders Russian forces pullout from Syria

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Polish premier calls for stop to speculation about Polish troops being sent to Ukraine

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Union State secretary describes Oreshnik deployment in Belarus as forced measure

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Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick Ryder said that US was not aware of this operation in advance

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BRICS’ own payment system is feasible, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister believes

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Press review: South Korean president impeached as Ukraine turns to foreign mercenaries

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Erdogan calls for eliminating all terrorist groups in Syria

Erdogan told Nehammer that Syrian refugees begin to return to their homeland

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Fall of Damascus and hopes for free Syria: Assad makes first statement after stepping down

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Russia's economic indicators steady over the year despite sanctions — Finance Minister

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Russian forces clear some seven hectares of forest near Kremennaya of Ukrainian troops

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Poland may scale back military aid to Ukraine amid dwindling resources — prime minister

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