French President Macron Asks PM Michel Barnier To Stay In Office Until There Is A Replacement

French President Emmanuel Macron asked the ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his government to remain in their capacity temporarily until the new prime minister is nominated.

Macron met with senior allies and politicians on Thursday as he sought to immediately appoint a new prime minister.

This came a day after far-right and left lawmakers toppled Michel Barnier.

Reported by Reuters, Thursday, December 5, Francois Bayrou, whose name is often mentioned by French media as Barnier's successor, is scheduled to have lunch at noon with Macron, reports the Le Parisien newspaper and other media. Bayrou is a veteran centrist politician and a close ally of Macron.

Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu is also touted as a prime ministerial candidate. There has been no news of a possible Macron meeting with him.

Three sources told Reuters Macron intends to immediately appoint a replacement, and one of the sources said he wanted to do so before Saturday's ceremony to reopen the renovated Notre-Dame Cathedral after a great fire. US President-elect Donald Trump is among the world's leaders expected to attend.

The Macron's own allies are pushing for swift action. After the interim elections in late June and early July, Macron took nearly two months to appoint Barnier.

"I recommend that he immediately continue the appointment of prime minister, this is important, we must not let everything be abandoned," National Assembly President Yael Braun-Pivet told France Inter radio before meeting Macron.