The government still faces two challenges in the coming weeks: the risk of a no-confidence vote and a tight budget deadline.

France's new government, finally appointed two-and-a-half months after elections, features a host of new faces all of whom share the same characteristic -- they are unlikely to stand in 2027 presidential elections.

On Saturday night Michel Barnier, the French prime minister, unveiled his new centre-Right cabinet, awarding plum posts such as interior and finance ministers to mainstream conservatives and Macron allies, provoking anger from the opposition and threats to topple the government.