At 73, François Bayrou finally reaches Matignon. After decades of political battles and unsuccessful attempts to reach the Élysée, the president of the MoDem was appointed Prime Minister by Emmanuel Macron on December 13, 2024. Portrait of a man marked by the quest for consensus, the challenges of power, and the secrets of a career full of twists and turns.
A Béarn childhood marked by traditions
Born on May 25, 1951 in Bordères, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, François Bayrou grew up in a family of farmers. His father, Jean, the mayor of his village, instilled in him the importance of civic values and community. His mother, Emma, cultivated in him a taste for local culture and regional languages, which he would defend throughout his life.
The future Prime Minister’s childhood was marked by a struggle against stuttering, a challenge he overcame through tenacity. A brilliant student, he pursued classical literature studies and obtained the agrégation at 23, before becoming a teacher in Pau. "If stuttering taught me anything, it’s that words are better than brilliance," he would later say, as if to explain his moderate stance.
A centrist forged by political battles
François Bayrou began his political career as a general councilor of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques in 1982. Quickly, he rose among the rising figures of the center-right by joining the Union for French Democracy (UDF). In 1993, he was appointed Minister of National Education in the Balladur government, where he left a lasting mark with ambitious reforms on the baccalaureate and universities. "Bayrou wanted to reconcile Descartes and Montaigne, but he mostly managed to stir up the unions," quipped a former collaborator.
But it was in 2007, during the presidential election, that he became known as the "third man" of French politics. His performance in the first round, with 18.6% of the votes, propelled him as a key player in the centrist landscape. However, despite his notoriety, he failed to turn this momentum into victory. His penchant for compromise, sometimes perceived as chronic indecision, hindered his national ambitions.
The setbacks of a tumultuous career
François Bayrou has often flirted with the heights of power without ever fully conquering them. In 2017, he supported Emmanuel Macron from the first round, sealing a strategic alliance. Appointed Minister of Justice after the election, he had to resign a month later due to the MoDem’s European parliamentary assistants affair. "A betrayal of the judicial system," he denounced, adding a dramatic touch to an already eventful episode.
Despite an acquittal in 2024, this affair continues to weigh on his image. His detractors criticize his authoritarian management within the MoDem and his stubbornness in defending sometimes unpopular positions. But his supporters praise a statesman who places conviction above electoral compromises.
A nomination under tension
The appointment of François Bayrou as Prime Minister comes after weeks of speculation. Known for his public disagreements with Emmanuel Macron, he is nevertheless seen as a figure capable of bringing together different political currents. His loyalty to the president and his ability to dialogue with the opposition were decisive.
"Bayrou is like Jurançon wine: complex, robust, and sometimes unpredictable," notes a close associate. But his negotiation skills will be put to the test in a fragmented National Assembly, where each vote will have to be won at the cost of difficult concessions.
Secrets and ambitions
François Bayrou, often described as a man of paradoxes, has long harbored a fascination for Henri IV, about whom he wrote a notable biography. Like the "Vert Galant", he cultivates an image of a moderator, seeking to reconcile divergent interests. But behind this consensual facade lies an undeniable ambition: to one day become president.
In February 2024, he still declared: "I have never abdicated the right to participate in major national events." His appointment to Matignon could well be a step on this path, or the crowning of an exceptional career. Unless it ends in a deadlock, swept away by the contradictions of a man who is both a strategist and a utopian.
Colossal challenges ahead
At the head of a government under the constant threat of censure, François Bayrou will have to prove his ability to build solid compromises. Expectations are high, as are the challenges: institutional reform, debt reduction, and dialogue with a fragmented opposition.
His mandate could redefine the contours of centrism in France and leave a lasting mark on the country’s political history. But to do so, he will have to overcome internal divisions, external pressures, and the traps of governance in a precarious balance.
For now, Matignon may be the culmination of a unique political career. "With Bayrou, nothing is ever certain, but everything is always to be gained," one of his loyalists likes to say. Perhaps the highest compliment one can pay to this eternal resilient.
