New French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou has called on both leftist and rightist forces to work together to overcome division in the country.

Bayrou, the head of a centrist party, spoke after being named by President Emmanuel Macron on Friday. His party is part of the ruling coalition.

Bayrou referred to social and political divisions that have grown within France, and said reconciliation is the only possible path to success.

He will replace Michel Barnier, who resigned on December 5 after lawmakers passed a no-confidence motion against him and his Cabinet.

Bayrou, a 73-year-old veteran politician, becomes the fourth person to fill the role this year amid political instability. He served as a Cabinet member under President Jacques Chirac in the 1990s.

Macron has been forced to run a minority government after leftist and far-right forces dramatically increased their seats in a lower house election in July.

Bayrou's appointment has drawn mixed reactions from opposition parties. Some say he will simply continue Macron's way of governing, while others say they will wait to see what policies emerge.

The new prime minister is expected to quickly form a Cabinet and resume deliberations on next fiscal year's budget.