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 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.