French Discontent Grows as Macron’s Prime Minister Pick Draws Ire.
In a sharp rebuke to French President Emmanuel Macron‘s leadership, a recent poll has revealed that a majority of the country’s citizens are unhappy with his latest political appointment.
Just a week after Macron named Francois Bayrou as the new Prime Minister, a survey conducted by Ifop-Fiducial for Sud Radio has found that a staggering 64 percent of French people are dissatisfied with this decision.
The poll, which surveyed over 1,000 respondents, paints a concerning picture for Bayrou, the leader of the centrist MoDem (Mouvement Democrate – Democratic Movement) party.
According to the findings, an even larger proportion – 67 percent – of those surveyed believe that Bayrou’s government will soon face a no-confidence vote, similar to the one that brought down the previous administration led by Michel Barnier.
Bayrou’s appointment was seen as Macron’s attempt to steer France out of its second major political crisis in just six months. However, the public’s overwhelming disapproval of this move suggests that the new Prime Minister faces an uphill battle to gain the trust and support of the French people.
Addressing the daunting challenges ahead, Bayrou himself has acknowledged the “Himalayan” task of tackling France’s burgeoning deficit, which is expected to close the year at over 6% of the country’s gross domestic product.
The new Prime Minister candidly admitted, “Nobody knows the difficulty of the situation better than I do… I am not unaware of the Himalaya that stands before us.”
Bayrou’s immediate priority will be to secure the passage of a special law to roll over the 2024 budget, a task that will likely be followed by an even more contentious battle over the 2025 legislation, expected to commence in January.
The previous government’s efforts to rein in the deficit, including Barnier’s bill aimed at achieving 60 billion euros ($63 billion) in savings, were deemed too austere by both the far-right and left-wing factions.
The failure to find a viable solution has led to a concerning rise in French borrowing costs, further exacerbating the country’s economic woes.
The power vacuum in the heart of Europe has emerged at a particularly precarious time, with former US President Donald Trump poised to make a potential return to the White House.
The overwhelming public dissatisfaction with Bayrou’s appointment underscores the deep-seated challenges facing the French government and the urgent need for a comprehensive, well-received plan to address the nation’s pressing fiscal and political issues.
Macron’s leadership will be further tested as his new Prime Minister navigates the treacherous waters of a skeptical public and a divided parliament.
