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With Merkel and PM, France's new president wastes no time

Posted May 15, 2017 7:00 am

The Associated Press

French President Emmanuel Macron listens as Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo delivers her speech during a ceremony at the Hotel de Ville in Paris, France, Sunday, May 14, 2017. (Charles Platiau/Pool Photo via AP) The Associated Press

PARIS (AP) - On his first full day in office, France's freshly inaugurated President Emmanuel Macron is expected to move quickly Monday on fronts foreign and domestic, meeting in Berlin with Chancellor Angela Merkel and possibly unveiling his choice of prime minister.

Among names being bandied around for the top job in Macron's first government, speculation is mostly centering on Edouard Philippe. The 46-year-old lawmaker, largely unknown to voters, is a member of the mainstream-right Republicans party. His appointment would be seen as an effort by the centrist Macron to build a majority in parliament by drawing in politicians from the right.

Macron's trip to Berlin, his first as president, signals his intent to also move rapidly on campaign promises to revive support for the European Union by reforming and strengthening it.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, left, walk together to attend a ceremony at the Paris city hall, France, Sunday, May 14, 2017. (Charles Platiau/Pool Photo via AP) The Associated Press

New French President Emmanuel Macron waves to supporters after a ceremony at the Arc of Triomphe following his formal inauguration ceremony as French President Sunday, May 14, 2017 in Paris. Macron was inaugurated as France's new president at the Elysee Palace in Paris, and immediately launched into his mission to shake up French politics, world economics and the European Union. (Alain Jocard, Pool via AP) The Associated Press

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