François Bayrou
France
Democratic Movement
High Commissioner for Planning
government
François René Jean Bayrou is a French politician who served as Prime Minister of France from December 2024 to September 2025. He has presided over the European Democratic Party (EDP) since 2004 and the Democratic Movement (MoDem) since 2007. A centrist, he was a candidate in the 2002, 2007 and 2012 presidential elections.
Standing...
Stories...
Aug 17, 2026
Far Right
L'ancien Premier ministre est cité dans le parcours de Yannick Neuder, qui avait rejoint son gouvernement fin 2024 avant sa chute en octobre 2025.
Le RN retient que le centrisme de Bayrou a débouché sur un gouvernement éphémère, illustration de l'impuissance politique contre laquelle vote l'électorat RN.
Aug 12, 2026
Far Left
Bayrou proposed a grand primary uniting PS, Macronists and LR behind a single candidate.
LFI sees Bayrou's initiative as a classic centrist manoeuvre to manufacture a bloc against Mélenchon and to obscure the failure of Macronism.
Aug 10, 2026
Far Right
The former PM called for a large primary among all who 'reject the extremes' eight months before the presidential election.
RN sees this as an establishment manoeuvre to prevent Marine Le Pen from reaching the second round.
Aug 10, 2026
Lean Right
In a Le Figaro interview, Bayrou doubts Édouard Philippe's ability to win the presidential election and demands an open primary among 'democratic river' candidates.
LR sees this as a centrist manoeuvre to absorb the right into a vague bloc, forcing LR to assert its own candidate and identity instead of joining Bayrou's architecture.
Jul 30, 2026
Lean Right
The former prime minister is pushing Thierry Breton to run for president, meeting with MoDem leadership to coordinate a 2027 bid.
Bayrou's centrist MoDem is a rival for the centre-right vote, and his maneuvering is seen as fragmenting the opposition to the left and far-right.
Jul 4, 2026
Lean Right
Received a secret birthday gift from Macron, as revealed by Le Figaro's indiscrets column.
This anecdote reinforces the LR narrative of a closed insider circle around Macron, undermining meritocracy and transparency.
Jul 3, 2026
Lean Right
Recipient of a secret birthday gift from Macron, reported by Le Figaro's indiscrets column.
LR sees Bayrou as a beneficiary of executive favours, reinforcing perceptions of a closed Macronist elite that sidelines merit.
Jun 18, 2026
Far Left
His new book on the Bétharram affair is exposed by Mediapart as a tissue of lies, rewriting himself as a martyr.
LFI condemns Bayrou's attempts to whitewash his role in the scandal and his continued influence in Macron's political sphere as an affront to victims.