Who is François Bayrou? The rise, fall, and legacy of France’s ousted prime minister

François Bayrou, one of France’s most prominent centrist figures and a longtime ally of President Emmanuel Macron, has been thrust into the spotlight once again following his dramatic ousting as prime minister. Known for his decades-long political career, his leadership of the Democratic Movement (MoDem), and his influence on French education reforms, Bayrou’s fall from power marks a turbulent moment in France’s already fragile political landscape. His departure not only raises questions about the stability of Macron’s government but also rekindles debates over Bayrou’s legacy, his scandals, and the future of centrism in French politics.

Early Life and Humble Beginnings

François René Jean Lucien Bayrou was born on 25 May 1951 in the small rural village of Bordères, nestled in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques of southwestern France. Raised in a farming family, Bayrou was deeply connected to the countryside and its values, shaping much of his political identity in later years. Despite struggling with a childhood stammer, he overcame the challenge to become a teacher of Latin and Greek before stepping into politics. His provincial background gave him an image of authenticity and groundedness, something he often leaned on to contrast with the Parisian political elite.

Centrist Voice in French Politics

Bayrou built his political reputation as a centrist leader. He served as president of the Union for French Democracy (UDF) between 1998 and 2007, before founding the Democratic Movement (MoDem) in 2007, where he has remained the party’s leader. His career also extended to Europe, where he became president of the European Democratic Party (EDP) in 2004. Though he never won the French presidency despite running in 2002, 2007, and 2012, Bayrou’s strong showing in 2007 with nearly 19% of the first-round vote cemented him as a major figure in the political center.

Government Service and Scandal

Between 1993 and 1997, Bayrou served as France’s Minister of National Education, where he became known for his reformist ideas. Later, in 2017, President Emmanuel Macron appointed him Minister of Justice, but his tenure ended abruptly amid allegations that MoDem misused parliamentary assistant funds. Years later, he was acquitted of wrongdoing, but the scandal lingered over his career. In 2017, he stepped aside from his own presidential ambitions to back Macron, a decision that revived his influence but also tethered his fortunes to the success of Macron’s leadership.

Appointment as Prime Minister

Bayrou’s most dramatic chapter came in December 2024, when Macron appointed him Prime Minister after the fall of Michel Barnier’s short-lived government. With France already in turmoil following Macron’s controversial decision to dissolve the National Assembly in 2024, Bayrou inherited a fractured legislature with no clear majority. His mission was to restore stability and push forward economic reforms, but the odds were stacked against him from the start.

Austerity Gamble and Political Miscalculation

Early in 2025, Bayrou invoked Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to force through a budget without parliamentary approval. The budget called for €30 billion in spending cuts and €20 billion in tax increases, including the deeply unpopular proposal to cut public holidays. Though he argued that France’s ballooning debt—standing at 114% of GDP—posed an existential threat to national sovereignty, the austerity agenda alienated both the left and the far right. What Bayrou framed as an act of courage was seen by opponents as arrogance, and it galvanized a parliamentary revolt.

Fall from Power

On 8 September 2025, Bayrou’s government collapsed when lawmakers voted 364–194 against him in a no-confidence motion. After just nine months in office, his premiership ended in the same chaos that had defined much of Macron’s second term. Bayrou became the third Prime Minister in less than a year to be ousted, a reflection of the deep instability in French politics. His downfall leaves Macron scrambling once again to find a replacement capable of building consensus in a divided National Assembly.

The Challenges Ahead for France

Bayrou’s removal underscores the fragile state of governance in France. With mounting public debt, social unrest brewing, and an increasingly polarized parliament, the path forward remains uncertain. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen has called for new elections, while Macron’s allies struggle to hold together what remains of the centrist coalition. Whether France can find stability or continue its spiral into political paralysis may depend on the president’s next choice of prime minister—and whether that figure can succeed where Bayrou could not.