PARIS, Dec 23, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - The clock ticked Monday for French President 
Emmanuel Macron to appoint the fourth government in a year marked by a 
deepening political crisis.

The widely-expected announcement of the government of new prime minister 
Francois Bayrou was postponed on Sunday.

On Monday, the Elysee presidential palace said the new cabinet would not be 
announced before 1700 GMT due to a day of mourning for the victims in the 
cyclone-hit French overseas territory of Mayotte.

French politics has been deadlocked since Macron gambled on snap elections 
this year. The move backfired with no party or alliance securing a majority.

The country was plunged into fresh chaos this month after the far right and 
left joined forces to oust prime minister Michel Barnier, the shortest lived 
premier in the Fifth Republic which began in 1958.

Bayrou, appointed on December 13, had said he hoped that his new 
administration would be presented "over the weekend" and "in any case before 
Christmas".

Macron and Bayrou held a series of talks Sunday but contrary to expectations 
the composition of a new administration was not announced.

On Monday, France observes a national day of mourning for the cyclone victims 
in the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte, where at least 35 people were 
killed and 2,500 injured.

"The length of this auditioning process... is unbearable," far-right National 
Rally lawmaker Jean-Philippe Tanguy told broadcaster BFMTV-RMC.

Bayrou's priority is to make sure his government can survive a no-confidence 
vote and that it passes a budget for next year.

He is hoping to bring in figures from the left, right and centre to protect 
his government from possible censure but exclude the hard left and far-right.

Bayrou is the sixth prime minister of Macron's mandate, and the fourth of 
2024.

Many commentators are already predicting Bayrou's premiership will be short-
lived.
- 'Already weakened' -

The fate of top posts remained uncertain but former prime minister Elisabeth 
Borne, former interior minister Gerald Darmanin, and Xavier Bertrand, the 
right-wing head of the northern Hauts-de-France region, have been mentioned 
as possible members of Bayrou's team.

Outgoing interior minister Bruno Retailleau, a conservative who has vowed to 
crack down on illegal immigration, was expected to keep his job however.

Right-wimg culture minister Rachida Dati and defence Minister Sebastien 
Lecornu might also keep their jobs.

Bayrou has endured a tumultuous first week as premier, after facing criticism 
for attending a hall meeting in his home city of Pau, where he is mayor, 
while Mayotte grappled with the deadly aftermath of Cyclone Chido.

A new poll by Ifop for the Journal du Dimanche weekly found 66 percent of 
respondents were unhappy with his performance.

Only 34 percent said they were satisfied or very satisfied with Bayrou.

Going to back to 1959, Ifop said it had not seen such a low rating for a 
prime minister starting the job.

"Francois Bayrou, still without a government and already weakened," said 
French daily Le Monde.

Hard-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon of the France Unbowed party (LFI) has 
vowed to table a motion of no confidence when Bayrou gives a policy speech to 
parliament on January 14.