Macron to name PM on first day as French President

Paris May 15 (IANS) Emmanuel Macron is beginning on Monday his first day as French President with picking a Prime Minister and later travelling to Germany to meet Chancellor Angela Merkel the media reported.

The Prime Minister s appointment is crucial for Macron who needs to do well in next month s parliamentary elections to push through his planned economic reforms the BBC reported.

The 39-year-old former investment banker and economy minister was inaugurated on Sunday as the 25th President of France and also the youngest in the nation s history in a ceremony at the Élysee Palace.

He promised to convince people that the power of France is not declining -- that we are on the brink of a great renaissance.

Macron s party Le Republique en Marche has unveiled more than 400 candidates for June s elections.

Many have never held elected office before reports the BBC.

Macron was sworn-in as President after his landslide victory over far-right National Front leader Marine le Pen with 66 per cent of the vote in the run-off poll held on May 7.

He had never contested an election before and only formed his centrist movement a year ago.

His visit to Germany is expected to be cordial as Macron has strong pro-EU views officials said.

He has said he wants to reform the eurozone giving it a common budget and its own finance minister but he will need German backing.

--IANS
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