France edged closer to having a new government, more than two months after a hung election, as new Prime Minister Michel Barnier's office said he had pulled together a list of ministers he will submit to President Emmanuel Macron later on Thursday.

France's Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Thursday sought to end months of political deadlock by submitting a proposed new cabinet to President Emmanuel Macron, featuring new faces in most of the key offices of state.

Michel Barnier has become France’s favourite political figure, according to a surprise new poll, in a boost to the EU’s former chief Brexit negotiator two weeks after president Emmanuel Macron appointed him prime minister.