- Title: France's Macron appoints conservative Edouard Philippe prime minister
- Date: 15th May 2017
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MAY 15, 2017) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) SECRETARY GENERAL OF FRENCH PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, ALEXIS KOHLER, WALKING ONTO STEPS OF ELYSEE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE AND SAYING: "Good afternoon ladies, good afternoon gentlemen. The president has appointed Mr. Edouard Philippe prime minister and tasked him with forming a new government. Thank you."
- Embargoed: 29th May 2017 14:00
- Keywords: election president prime minister Philippe Edouard Macron France
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA0016GY8ABR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:New French President Emmanuel Macron appointed a conservative prime minister on Monday (May 15) in a move to broaden his political appeal and weaken his opponents before legislative elections in June.
Edouard Philippe, 46, a lawmaker and mayor of port city Le Havre, is from the moderate wing of the main centre-right The Republicans party and will be a counterweight to former Socialist MPs who have joined Macron's cause.
Elysee secretary-general Alexis Kohler made the announcement on the steps of the presidential Elysee palace.
Macron has vowed to end the left-right politics which have dominated France for decades, and his start-up centrist Republic on the Move (REM) party, which is just a year old, needs to find a wide base of support for the parliamentary elections.
Philippe is a close associate of former prime minister Alain Juppe, who leads the moderate wing of The Republicans, and has indicated that he favours helping Macron. His appointment could draw more defectors from The Republicans. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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