France’s new prime minister selects Eric Lombard as finance minister

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France’s new prime minister François Bayrou has selected Eric Lombard, head of state-backed financial group Caisse des Dépôts, as finance minister, handing him the key role of trying to enact a budget for next year.

Bayrou’s predecessor, Michel Barnier, was ousted by France’s parliament in a vote of no confidence earlier this month because of opposition from leftwing and far-right political parties to his deficit-cutting budget.

Members of Bayrou’s cabinet were unveiled on Monday night after days of wrangling between him and President Emmanuel Macron, who officially names the ministers after recommendations by the premier.

This is a developing story.