France: New PM François Bayrou meets party leaders to form government

Paris: 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.”