Macron names centre-right politician Édouard Philippe as new PM / French President Macron’s government brings together mix of old and new faces

Following his inauguration as President of France on the 14 May 2017 Emmanuel Macron named 46-year-old Édouard Philippe from the centre-right Les Républicains party as the country’s new prime minister on the 15 May 2017.

The choice, it was suggested, was an attempt to draw more leading figures from the conservative opposition into his new centrist party La République en Marche (REM), ahead of the legislative elections on 11 and 18 June 2017.

The announcement of the members of the new French government was expected on the 16 May but was delayed until the 17 May 2017 to allow for a longer time for vetting. The new government contained people from the left, the right, the centre and greens, and had a gender balance.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Macron becomes president of France after handover with Hollande http://www.europeansources.info/record/macron-becomes-president-of-france-after-handover-with-hollande/

ESO: Key source: French legislative election, 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-legislative-election-2017/

The Local.fr, 15.05.17: All you need to know about France's little-known Prime Minister Edouard Philippe https://www.thelocal.fr/20170515/what-you-need-to-know-about-edouard-philippe-and-why-macron-chose-him

BBC News, 15.05.17: France's Macron names Republican Philippe as PM http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/39923510

Deutsche Welle, 15.05.17: French President Macron names centrist Edouard Philippe as prime minister http://p.dw.com/p/2cy0E

Politico, 15.05.17: Macron goes right out of the gates — and then to Berlin http://www.politico.eu/article/macron-chooses-conservative-lawmaker-edouard-philippe-as-pm/

EurActiv, 15.05.17: Macron hopes new centre-right PM will broaden political appeal http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/macron-hopes-new-centre-right-pm-will-broaden-political-appeal/

Blog: Open Europe, 15.05.17: The choice of France’s new Prime Minister reveals Macron’s balancing act http://openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/france-new-prime-minister-reveals-macrons-balancing-act/

France24, 17.05.17: French President Macron’s government brings together mix of old and new faces http://www.france24.com/en/20170517-live-france-president-macron-set-unveil-first-government

Politico, 17.05.17: Emmanuel Macron’s cabinet — the key ministers http://www.politico.eu/article/emmanuel-macrons-cabinet-the-key-ministers/

The Local.fr, 17.05.17: Who's who: All you need to know about Macron's 'balanced' French government https://www.thelocal.fr/20170517/whos-who-a-look-at-emmanuel-macrons-new-balanced-government

France24, 18.05.17: 'Europe for Dummies': Macron's cabinet picks are an overture to Brussels and Berlin http://www.france24.com/en/20170518-france-europe-dummies-macron-picks-are-overture-brussels-berlin

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