President Emmanuel Macron announced the appointment of Édouard Philippe, the conservative mayor of Le Havre, as France’s next prime minister Monday.
Philippe is part of the center-right Republicans and not yet a member of Macron’s new party La République En Marche. He represented the Socialist Party in his early career but has gradually shifted to the right.
The appointment is seen as a way to attract figures from the conservative opposition ahead of the parliamentary election in June.
“If the prime minister comes from the right, Emmanuel Macron will be able to attack the parliamentary elections by dynamiting the right, in the same way he has done to the left,” political expert Philippe Moreau-Chevrolet told AFP.
Unlike other European countries, the French prime minister is not seen as a superior to other ministers. The main role is to preside over the government and carry out the program of the president.
Macron will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Monday night to “relaunch the European project.”
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.