Gilles Richard, historian: 'François Bayrou has some trump cards up his sleeve'
InterviewThe new prime minister, a highly experienced Christian Democrat, is sufficiently equipped both to resist Emmanuel Macron and to navigate between parliamentary forces, judges the historian of right-wing politics.
Gilles Richard is president of the French Society of Political History (SFHPo) and professor emeritus of contemporary history at the University of Rennes-II. He speaks to Le Monde about the recent appointment of François Bayrou as prime minister and the state of French politics.
Does François Bayrou have a chance of ending the current political deadlock and finding majorities in Parliament that would allow him to act?
No one can say, but he has some trump cards up his sleeve: He is able to stand up to Emmanuel Macron because he has long political experience and the immense advantage, compared to the president, of having a perfect knowledge of political parties, the electoral map and even of society.
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