By Michael D. Carroll
Breaking News Editor
François Bayrou has been appointed on Friday as the new Prime Minister of France following the resignation of Michel Barnier.
The centrist leader met with President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace early this morning to formalize his appointment.
Barnier stepped down after his government collapsed last week, triggered by a no-confidence vote. The political crisis arose after Barnier invoked special powers to push a social security budget through the lower house of parliament without a final vote.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.