France's new PM criticised for chairing town hall meeting as Mayotte reels after cyclone
France's newly appointed Prime Minister, Francois Bayrou, is facing a wave of criticism less than a week into the job. He came under fire on Tuesday for opting to chair a provincial town hall meeting while the French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte struggled to recover from the devastating impact of a recent cyclone.
The controversy erupted less than a week after Bayrou was named as the sixth prime minister of President Emmanuel Macron's mandate with the task of ending months of political crisis.
The veteran centrist had already ruffled some feathers by insisting that he would keep his post as mayor of the southwestern city of Pau while serving as prime minister.
The appointment marks a significant moment in Macron’s second term, as Bayrou, a long-time ally of the president, steps into the role with a wealth of political experience.
Bayrou, who has served as the mayor of Pau, a southwestern city, for the past decade, made headlines even before his appointment by insisting on retaining his mayoral duties while taking on the prime ministership. This dual role raised eyebrows, especially since many previous prime ministers chose to resign from their municipal posts.
On Monday evening, Bayrou traveled to Pau to attend a town hall meeting, where he confirmed that he would stay on in the post that he has held for the last decade.
A proud native of southwestern France, Bayrou has long been a figure of political influence in the region.
Mayotte crisis meeting
His absence from a crisis meeting on Mayotte, which Macron chaired to discuss the devastating aftermath of Cyclone Chido, raised some concerns.
(with AFP)
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