Speculation mounts on Macron Premier
Several names linked to the top job in new President's first government
France's new president Emmanuel Macron is expected to name his Prime Minister on his first full day in office on Monday.
The Prime Minister will then nominate the new cabinet of 15 ministers. A third of the new government will have come from outside the current political elite, Mr Macron has said.
Usually the prime minister is drawn from members of the National Assembly, but Mr Macron is likely to go against tradition. He told French radio in two interviews before last weekend's second-round vote that he had already decided who the job would go to – but refused to be drawn on his choice's identity.
Speculation is rife over Mr Macron's choice - with one-time Les Republicains' presidential hopeful Alain Juppé considered to be the most-suited for the role according to an Odexo survey for franceinfo. IMF head Christine Lagarde, a former finance minister, is also among the names that have been mentioned, along with Pascal Lamy, ex-director general of the World Trade Organisation.
Jean-Yves Le Drian, a former defence minister under Mr Hollande, who was an early convert to Mr Macron's En Marche! movement is regarded as a popular choice. Other well-known public figures linked to the post include Sylvie Goulard, an MEP from the Democratic Movement (MoDem), and Anne-Marie Idrac, who was once secretary of state for transport.
MoDem leader François Bayrou is expected to have a post in Mr Macron's first cabinet, as are Nicolas Sarkozy’s labour minister Xavier Bertrand and Lyon mayor, Gérard Collomb.
Former Prime Minister Manuel Valls, however, who had declared his intention to run for the Assembly as a candidate for Mr Macron's En Marche! party has failed to be selected. According to party officials, Mr Valls did not meet the required criteria for candidates.
With the legislative elections in June, Mr Macron's first prime ministerial appointment may even be a short-lived, however, as he may have to replace his choice with an opposition party member if En Marche! fails to win a parliamentary majority. An early poll has suggested that his party will win 286 Assembly seats next month - three short of an overall majority, but enough to be the largest party.
