France’s president and prime minister managed to form a new government just in time for the holidays. Crushing debt, intensifying pressure from the nationalist far right, wars in Europe and the Mideast: Challenges abound for President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Francois Bayrou after an already tumultuous 2024.

The foreign, defense and interior ministers from the government that collapsed this month return in Prime Minister François Bayrou’s new government.

The government, put together by newly named Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, includes members of the outgoing conservative-dominated team and new figures from centrist or left-leaning backgrounds. Coming up with a 2025 budget will be the most urgent order of business.

The new government under PM Francois Bayrou will aim to quickly pass the 2025 budget and survive the test of a no-confidence motion by the opposition.