French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said he aimed to reach an agreement with parliament on a 2025 budget that would reduce the country’s deficit to close to 5%, near the level his predecessor unsuccessfully tried to reach.

France’s lower house of parliament toppled the government for the first time in more than 60 years in early December, forcing President Emmanuel Macron to cast around for a prime minister who could navigate the country’s bitterly divided political landscape.

The 73-year-old has been a well-known figure in French politics for decades - but faces a difficult battle leading France's fractured parliament.

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. View on euronews

François Bayrou has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of France following the resignation of Michel Barnier.

France’s new premier Francois Bayrou vowed to sharply narrow the nation’s deficit to close to 5% of GDP, a plan that threatens a repeat of the stand-off which toppled the last government.

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Francois Bayrou as his new prime minister, marking his sixth appointment. The government aims to address political and economic challenges. Two former prime ministers join the cabinet,

President Emmanuel Macron appointed Eric Lombard as France’s finance minister, tapping an experienced finance professional as part of a new cabinet that also returned two former prime ministers to government.

The critical task of delivering a budget plan for next year falls to Eric Lombard, the new economy minister. Former Prime Minister Michel Barnier's move to push through a cost-cutting budget led to his ouster.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced a new government Monday, after the previous Cabinet collapsed in a historic vote prompted by fighting over the country’s budget. The government, put together by newly named Prime Minister Francois Bayrou,

France's new government is set to be named later on Monday evening, the presidency said in a statement, as centrist prime minister Francois Bayrou tries to find a team able to withstand challenges from both the far-right and far-left.

Marine Le Pen has declared that French President Emmanuel Macron is "finished" and will soon be forced to resign - triggering an early presidential election. The National Rally leader made the bold claims in an interview with Le Parisien newspaper,