France has announced the formation of a new government, marking the fourth cabinet change this year.

Seven ministers have retained their positions, including Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. Élisabeth Borne, who served as Prime Minister from May 2022 to January 2024 and enjoys strong support from Bayrou, has taken on the role of Minister of Education. The Minister of Economy and Finance will be Éric Lombard, the director of the fund managing state financing for the Deposits and Consignments Fund.

The first meeting of the new government is scheduled for January 3, 2025.

• The primary task of Bayrou's cabinet will be to adopt the budget for 2025 amid a divided National Assembly. French media note that the new cabinet will find it extremely challenging to balance between the right and left factions. In this context, the stability of the government raises serious concerns.
• Previously, Barnier's government was sustained because the third-largest far-right bloc led by Marine Le Pen abstained from voting on the no-confidence motion. When Le Pen changed her stance, the combined votes of her allies and the left bloc were sufficient to oust the government.
• As for the National Assembly, the President of France is not permitted to dissolve it within a year after the last elections, which were held on July 8.