section_path: Political career/Later career
section_name: Later career
paragraph_text: Later career
  
  In September 2020, Bayrou was appointed as high commissioner for planification by Prime minister Jean Castex.
  
  In February 2022, Bayrou created what he calls a "sponsorship bank", joined by a few hundred local officials, willing to give their signatures to candidates for the presidential election struggling to obtain them, even if they represent a large part of the public according to opinion polls, including far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.
  
  Following the appointment of Gabriel Attal as Prime Minister in January 2024, Bayrou stated that he would not be joining the government; he had been widely expected to return to the cabinet after he was acquitted of fraud charges shortly before.
  
  In September 2020, Bayrou was appointed as high commissioner for planification by Prime minister Jean Castex.
  
  In February 2022, Bayrou created what he calls a "sponsorship bank", joined by a few hundred local officials, willing to give their signatures to candidates for the presidential election struggling to obtain them, even if they represent a large part of the public according to opinion polls, including far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.
  
  Following the appointment of Gabriel Attal as Prime Minister in January 2024, Bayrou stated that he would not be joining the government; he had been widely expected to return to the cabinet after he was acquitted of fraud charges shortly before.
  
  In September 2020, Bayrou was appointed as high commissioner for planification by Prime minister Jean Castex.
  
  In February 2022, Bayrou created what he calls a "sponsorship bank", joined by a few hundred local officials, willing to give their signatures to candidates for the presidential election struggling to obtain them, even if they represent a large part of the public according to opinion polls, including far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.
  
  Following the appointment of Gabriel Attal as Prime Minister in January 2024, Bayrou stated that he would not be joining the government; he had been widely expected to return to the cabinet after he was acquitted of fraud charges shortly before.