Macron names a Republican lawmaker as prime minister

On his first day in office, French President Emmanuel Macron appointed as prime minister Edouard Philippe, a relatively unknown 46-year old lawmaker of the conservative Republican Party, which he beat at the polls. This was announced Monday by Alexis Khohler, the new general secretary at the presidential Elysee Palace. Macron therefore skipped his own fledgling party to choose a prime minister. Philippe is the mayor the Normandy port of Le Havre, a trained lawyer and author of political thrillers. Macron was due to meet Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin later Monday.