France: Macron to name his Prime Minister next Sunday

By Hajer M'tiri

PARIS

France's newly elected president centrist Emmanuel Macron will name his Prime Minister next Sunday, according to his campaign.

The polls placed Macron first with 62.46 percent ahead of the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen who got 37.54 percent of the vote in the run-off round. The initial percentages can change slightly as the rest of the votes are counted.

Macron "will name his Prime Minister next Sunday when he assumes power," his political movement 'En Marche!' (On the move!) tweeted.

Macron, a former economy minister, who has never before run for elected office, is ardently pro-EU and has praised German Chancellor Angela Merkel for taking in over a million refugees.

Macron, a former investment banker, was top adviser on economic issues of outgoing president Francois Hollande from 2012 to 2014, then economy minister in his Socialist government for two years.

He later founded his own political movement 'En Marche!' (On the move) in April last year.

In a very calm and short victory speech, Macron thanked those who trusted him and elected him saying it is a "big honor, and an immense responsibility".

"A new page of history is starting today. I want this page to be one of hope and trust," Macron said, adding he is "aware of the anger, doubt and anxiety" that many French feel.

Macron, 39, becomes the youngest president of France's Fifth Republic.

The official results would be announced on May 10th by the President of the Constitutional Council, Laurent Fabius.

Macron will formally take office by mid-May and has to prepare for a two-round legislative elections in June.