Macron names centrist François Bayrou as French PM

French President Emmanuel Macron has named centrist leader François Bayrou as France's next prime minister, in a bid to end months of political turmoil, BBC reports.

A Macron ally, Bayrou is a mayor from the southwest and leads the MoDem party. Ahead of the announcement, the two men spent almost two hours in talks described as tense by French media.

The president's task is now to ensure Bayrou lasts longer than his predecessor. Ex-Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier lasted just three months and was ousted by MPs nine days ago.

Macron is half-way through his second term as president and Bayrou will be his fourth prime minister this year.

French politics has been deadlocked ever since Macron called snap parliamentary elections during the summer and an opinion poll for BFMTV on Thursday suggested 61% of French voters were worried by the political situation.

Socialist regional leader Carole Dega said the whole process had become a "bad movie", while far-left France Unbowed leader Manuel Bompard complained of a "pathetic spectacle".

President Macron has vowed to remain in office until his second term ends in 2027, despite Barnier's downfall last week.

He cut short a trip to Poland on Thursday and had been expected to name his new prime minister on Thursday night, but postponed his announcement until Friday.

He then met Bayrou, 73, at the Elysée Palace and a final decision was made hours later.

Bayrou was set to move into the prime minister's residence at Hôtel Matignon almost immediately, and a red carpet was rolled out for the transfer of power even before his name was confirmed.

His challenge will be in forming a government that will not be brought down the way his predecessor's was in the National Assembly.