Emmanuel Macron Names Edouard Philippe as French Prime Minister

PARIS: Edouard Philippe, the center-right mayor of the port city of Le Havre, was named F rance’s new prime minister, charged with putting into action the economic reforms of the newly inaugurated President Emmanuel Macron.

The first major announcement of Macron’s 24-hour-old presidency was made by Alexis Kohler, the president’s chief of staff. Philippe will now be tasked with selecting his ministers ahead of the first cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

The 46-year-old Philippe is a member of the Republicans party and initially supported Alain Juppe in the French presidential campaign. By picking Philippe, Macron, a former minister in Socialist Francois Hollande’s government, is looking to broaden his appeal ahead of the legislative elections in June.