would choose in an who he would choose in an effort to try to end months of political turmoil. of course his government fell last week after the french mps as prime minister in a no—confidence vote. emmanuel macron has said that a replacement would be appointed by the end of thursday. however, as the hours pass there was no confirmation that francois bayrou was being given the job. we that francois bayrou was being given thejob. we now have news that the 73—year—old centrist leader francois bayrou has been appointed. let's speak to our correspondent. how popular will this be? , . ., ., this be? this will come down with a lot _ this be? this will come down with a lot of _ this be? this will come down with a lot of questions. - this be? this will come down with a lot of questions. he i this be? this will come down l with a lot of questions. he was the main contenderfor with a lot of questions. he was

the main contender for quite some time. we know that francois bayrou spent close to two hours at the elise palace speaking with manlleu this morning. there were conflicting reports as to the fact that may the conversation francois bayrou had with manlleu didn't go down very well. —— elysee palace. there were reports he left frustrated, throwing some new names in the french media for quite some time. but when it comes to the french people, francois bayrou is someone who is quite well—known, he's been in politics for nearly 30 years now, is a former minister and he is a close ally of emmanuel macron since the very first hours of emmanuel macron�*s presidency. hours of emmanuel macron's presidency-— hours of emmanuel macron's residen .�* ., ., , presidency. but how popular is he auoin presidency. but how popular is he going to — presidency. but how popular is he going to be. _ presidency. but how popular is he going to be, given - presidency. but how popular is he going to be, given we - presidency. but how popular is he going to be, given we have| he going to be, given we have heard from some of those on the left that they wanted somebody more aligned with their politics? that anyone too close to the centre or to the right of that would be unacceptable to them. ., v , �*

of that would be unacceptable tothem. . �*, y�* to them. that's why i'm saying this will probably _ to them. that's why i'm saying this will probably be _ to them. that's why i'm saying this will probably be quite - this will probably be quite controversial, there will be lots of discussion. the main challenge for emmanuel macron is what he is hoping is by the end of his term in 2027 there is not another vote of no confidence that we saw last week. so it's the challenge of trying to get a government that will be able to mend the differences between the left and the centrist bloc, the right centrist bloc. the appointment of francois bayrou as prime minister will give some sort of lead away when it comes to the right side of this assembly cache leeway. it will probably appease some members on marie le pen�*s camp because there is an important veto here, francois bayrou did not boycott marine le pen�*s election in the last time around. he went publicly saying marine le pen should run for election and that a decision on marine le pen�*s election should be coming in the ballot and not in the constitutional court. this is probably give back time when it comes to the far right

side of the national assembly, saying do not vote out francois bayrou's government.- bayrou's government. which brin . s bayrou's government. which brings me — bayrou's government. which brings me to _ bayrou's government. which brings me to the _ bayrou's government. which brings me to the question, l bayrou's government. which i brings me to the question, how much better place is he that michel barnier? because he has got to get the budget across the line, and that's what brought about michel barnier�*s down for last week? brought about michel barnier's down for last week? absolutely and that's why _ down for last week? absolutely and that's why it's _ down for last week? absolutely and that's why it's the - down for last week? absolutely and that's why it's the big - and that's why it's the big question and the big unknown at the minute. what we know is that francois bayrou, being a bit more centrist than michel barnier, michel barnier who was the prime ministerfrom, the shortest prime minister in the fifth french republic buzzing history, was someone who is coming from a hard right side of politics —— french republic's history. that wasn't to the taste of even the most moderate left mps in the national assembly. francois bayrou will probably be able to appease that a bit more and probably be able to find some more leeway and common ground with that. we have seen

reactions because of francois bayrou's name was there for quite some time, that some members and the many groups within that left coalition will not be very happy with this appointment. there have been many already saying we need fresh voices in french politics and he's definitely not one of them because, as i said, he's beenin them because, as i said, he's been in french politics for almost 30 years now. the groups we have been _ almost 30 years now. the groups we have been speaking _ almost 30 years now. the groups we have been speaking to, - we have been speaking to, notably the green party, this morning saying we want somebody from the left because we did so well in recent elections and that should be reflected in the choice of prime minister. and emanuel macron has not gone with that. he emanuel macron has not gone with that. ., , ., ., with that. he has not gone with that. with that. he has not gone with that- that _ with that. he has not gone with that. that is _ with that. he has not gone with that. that is | _ with that. he has not gone with that. that is i think _ with that. he has not gone with that. that is i think also - with that. he has not gone with that. that is i think also the - that. that is i think also the decision that he personally made, saying i have been elected as a president for five years. i want to see this term to the end, i don't want to leave, so i will appoint someone who will reflect on my policy rather than someone who will be more left than me and i will be more left than me and i will not be able to coordinate and talk with. so this is why

he went for francois bayrou rather than somebody else more on the left side of things. and of course this was going to create a lot of anger and confusion when it comes to the left mps and the green party and the far left. but as emanuel macron said, voting against michel barnier�*s government last week in the parliament was a message of being part of the anti—republican front, what he calls, against the constitution, against the will of the people. so the situation you have put us in means that i have no other choice than to name somebody else and i will not name someone from your own coalition because you have been part of this anti—republican movement. that is what emanuel macron made very clear in his address to the french people last week after the vote of no confidence after michel barnier. and this was why he was always going to go for someone who was always going to represent some side of his values. , ., a, values. there is also the 0 tion values. there is also the 0ption of— values. there is also the option of course - values. there is also the option of course of- values. there is also the i option of course of using article 49 which can force

legislation through. but that has to be used quite carefully, doesn't it? because ultimately you have got to take your government or your parliament with you. government or your parliament with ou. , , with you. exactly and this is what michel _ with you. exactly and this is what michel barnier - with you. exactly and this is what michel barnier did, - with you. exactly and this is what michel barnier did, he | what michel barnier did, he took his own responsibilities, because for months, as you mentioned earlier the budget, four months michel barnier was trying to table the national budget, how many taxes we are taking on, how much spending are we putting out of the treasury and what happened there was that michel barnier tried to make concessions with marine le pen's camp on the far right which didn't work out. they had some red lines. that didn't work out so he tried to push the budget with what you said, this article 49.3, which is without the parliamentary approval, but that as you said, and the main goal here, this is probably the main subject of the discussion between emanuel macron and francois bayrou this morning, was we do not go with this article again up until i'm

no longer president in 2027. so going to be a lot of compromises and a lot of discussion in the french assembly. discussion in the french assembly-— discussion in the french assembly. discussion in the french assembl. �*, ., ., ., assembly. it's a long time for him to hang _ assembly. it's a long time for him to hang on. _ assembly. it's a long time for him to hang on. it— assembly. it's a long time for him to hang on. it is- assembly. it's a long time for him to hang on. it is a - assembly. it's a long time for him to hang on. it is a long . him to hang on. it is a long time, him to hang on. it is a long time. 30 — him to hang on. it is a long time, 30 months, - him to hang on. it is a long time, 30 months, 30 - him to hang on. it is a long time, 30 months, 30 veryl him to hang on. it is a long - time, 30 months, 30 very long months, especially when we know michel barnier only did three, or so. michel barnier only did three, orso. so michel barnier only did three, or so. so this is going to be very difficult for him. we also have to remember that it is the sixth prime minister under emmanuel macron. it is number fourjust for this year alone. so this is going to be almost as life expectancy as prime minister is going to be very, very tricky. but we also have to remember that this is almost a dream job of francois bayrou. he's been waiting for this for all of his career, trying to get a coalition with somebody who could get the presidency so he could be french prime minister and this is his opportunity, this is what he could have dreamt of because he knows that he can't do that

presidency run himself. we can see here. _ presidency run himself. we can see here, this _ presidency run himself. we can see here, this is _ presidency run himself. we can see here, this is the _ presidency run himself. we can see here, this is the scene - see here, this is the scene inside the presidential palace inside the presidential palace in paris. the red carpet rolled out for the transfer of power. no sign of anybody on that carpet yet. you say that francois bayrou really wanted this job. francois bayrou really wanted thisjob. he met emmanuel macron for about three and a half hours in something that was described as a very tense meeting. it is quite a task he has got ahead of him, isn't it? yes, i don't think anybody in france wants hisjob right yes, i don't think anybody in france wants his job right now. there was a few names out there but if it took so long, because remember that already on tuesday we were thinking maybe we are going to have a prime minister in france, the fact that we don't have one until now means that there were not that many candidates out there that many candidates out there that were fitting the bill. the reports of this very tense exchange between francois bayrou and two macron, to give you an idea with an anecdote,

he didn't leave the elysee palace by the main door, he left by a side door. that gives you all you need to know because journalists are at the main door and said we haven't seen him out so what is going on here? this is why so many other names were thrown out there for the rest of the morning. and therefore, yes, there is a very painful task ahead of him, for francois bayrou, but this is the job ahead of him, for francois bayrou, but this is thejob he wanted to have for quite some time and hopefully he will amend his dam the crucial differences that are in the national assembly —— are meant for crucial differences. national assembly -- are meant for crucial differences.— for crucial differences. there was a poll — for crucial differences. there was a poll yesterday - for crucial differences. there i was a poll yesterday suggesting 6i% was a poll yesterday suggesting 61% of french voters are worried by this political situation and the far left france unbound leader complained it was a pathetic spectacle. gives a sense of how worried people are in france. people are worried because they see this political game happening, we have talked to many them last week when we

were in france for the vote of no—confidence. we have seen the situation where french people are just fed up situation where french people arejust fed up of situation where french people are just fed up of seeing debates and a government being thrown out and the dissolution. when emmanuel macron decided decided to dissolve parliament and call snap elections, the result of the snap election seems to go completely against emanuel macron, completely splitting parliament in three and therefore resulted in this situation now.— and therefore resulted in this situation now. pierre antoine, deliahted situation now. pierre antoine, delighted that _ situation now. pierre antoine, delighted that you _ situation now. pierre antoine, delighted that you leapt - situation now. pierre antoine, delighted that you leapt in. i delighted that you leapt in. thank you very much. the new french prime minister is francois bayrou. much more on that with annita very shortly but coming up next to the weather. we will see the return of sunshine more widely through tomorrow, few brighter breaks today but if you have them you are one of the lucky few because for most it is the grey, mcclymont cloud overhead once again. a fairly damp day with rain and drizzle.

things will change, though, in the next 24 hours, from this weather front. through the rest of today, that is going to start bring a bit more rain to the northern isles, the western isles, also across the highlands. but you'll notice just to the north—west of it, sunshine will come through. so you mayjust get a glimpse of the sunset before it disappears in the western isles. elsewhere, though, we stick with plenty of cloud, something a little bit wetter towards the south—west at times as well through this afternoon. but as i said, one or two breaks possible. another cool day, with temperatures in single figures. into tonight, though, that weather front starts to push its way southwards. you can see clearing skies, wintry over the very tops of the scottish mountains. an area from north wales, northern england, northwards, the temperature chart shows some blues, indicating there could be some frost, even a bit of ice around for tomorrow morning. in the south, though, not as cold, but it will still be a chilly start. and if you are waking up to grey and gloomy conditions first thing, stay with it, because this is the weather front which will push away that cloud during the first part of tomorrow morning. so brightening skies across the south, turning drierfor a time. there will be a few showers in the west,

through the morning especially. but for the west of scotland, northern ireland, make the most of the morning sunshine because through the afternoon, the cloud returns here and we will see some outbreaks of rain, especially in the western highlands. another cool day, though, by and large, but the offset is a bit more sunshine, it will probably actually feel a little bit more pleasant than it has done so far this week. then as we go through into saturday night, well, actually, temperatures rise through the night for all of us. south—westerly winds will be pushing in, making it a much milder day for everyone into sunday. but the cloud will return as a consequence of that, unfortunately — milder weather at this time of year usually means cloudier conditions. but it won't be the gloom we've had of recent days. too much breeze for that. and there will be some breaks in the cloud, so there will be some brightness at times, but it's in western scotland where the cloud will bring some outbreaks of rain on and off throughout the day and they will mount up as we go into next week. but here is the big change. temperatures for all, double figures, if not the low teens, so it will feel much milder, even though there will be more of a breeze. and we will continue with the milder theme into next week.

breezy at times, there will be outbreaks of rain coming and going, too, with the odd brighter spell in between. see you soon.

live from london. this is bbc news. the french president, emmanuel macron, has named his new prime minister. francois bayrou will take the place of michel barnier,

after days of political deadlock. i'm lyse doucet. in damascus, in umayyad square where huge crowds of syrians are gathering here and across the country for what is described as victory day, a celebration of the end 50 years of repressive rule. and a chinese businessman described as a "close confidante" of prince andrew has lost an appeal against a decision to bar him from the uk on national security grounds. hello, i m annita mcveigh, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. we will be back in syria shortly. breaking news now from paris. the french president emmanuel macron has named francois bayrou as the

country's next prime minister following the collapse of the