The Latest Breaking News from Elisabeth Borne

Centrist François Bayrou had promised a ‘national interest government’ across the middle political ground but ended up leaning to the conservative right

France's Prime Minister François Bayrou mounted a vigorous defence on Monday night of his choices to lead the country out of its economic and political crisis.

People around the world marked International Women's Day Friday with protests, demonstrations and celebrations.

France's new Prime Minister Gabriel Attal was on Wednesday choosing his cabinet team after his stunning promotion by President Emmanuel Macron to become the youngest French head of government.

Macron will be hoping the 34-year-old Attal, who is one of the country’s most popular politicians, will help turn his party’s fortunes around ahead of the EU elections in June.

New year, new face. France's youngest-ever president has named the country's youngest-ever prime minister. We ask why Emmanuel Macron chose to replace Élisabeth Borne with Gabriel Attal and chart the meteoric rise of a 34-year-old Parisian who has already enjoyed stints as city councillor, party spokesperson, budget minister, government spokesperson…

Attal, 34, rose to prominence as the government spokesperson then education minister and had polled as the most popular minister in the outgoing government.

The 34-year-old, who is also the first openly gay French premier, was appointed by President Emmanuel Macron.

Mr Attal – also the country’s first openly gay PM – will now lead a government bruised by spats over immigration and pension reforms and facing a buoyant Marine Le Pen in key European elections in the summer