French President Emmanuel Macron has named loyalist Sebastien Lecornu - a one-time conservative protege who rallied behind his 2017 presidential run - as prime minister, defying expectations he might pick a progressive.

The choice of Mr Lecornu, 39, indicates Macron’s determination to press on with a minority government that stands firmly behind his pro-business economic reform agenda, under which taxes on business and the wealthy have been cut and the retirement age raised.

Mr Macron was forced to appoint a fifth prime minister in less than two years after parliament ousted Francois Bayrou nine months into the role over his plans for taming the country’s ballooning debt.

In handing the job to Mr Lecornu, Mr Macron risks alienating the Socialist Party and leaves the president and his go

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