French President Emmanuel Macron appointed François Bayrou as the new Prime Minister on December 13, 2024, following a historic vote of no-confidence that ended Michel Barnier's short-lived minority coalition. Bayrou, a veteran centrist and founder of the Democratic Movement (MoDem) party, has been a key ally of Macron since 2017. He faces the immediate challenge of passing a special law to extend the 2024 budget and navigating a deeply divided parliament. Bayrou's political journey includes serving as Minister of National Education, Mayor of Pau, and Justice Minister. Despite his experience, Bayrou inherits a fragmented National Assembly, complicating his efforts to push through legislation. France's political instability has raised doubts about Macron's ability to complete his term and led to higher borrowing costs and a perceived power vacuum in Europe. Bayrou's first significant challenge will be the 2025 budget bill, which aims to save €60 billion to address France's 6% deficit.