French Prime Minister François Bayrou denied there was "influence" from the far-right "National Rally" party (NS) on the formation of the country's new government, announced today, reported Agence France-Presse, quoted by BTA.
Last night's statement followed accusations by center-right politician Xavier Bertrand, first tipped for prime minister and then tipped as a favorite for the post of justice minister, that he was removed from the cabinet under pressure from NS leader Marine Le Pen.
Ultimately, former interior minister Gérald Darmanin will be justice minister.
"First of all, it is not true that any influence was exerted on me," Bayrou told BFM television.
"Xavier Bertrand proposed an approach to the work of the justice ministry that seemed too aggressive to me. This is not my approach," the new French prime minister explained.
Bayroux added that he was convinced of his government's intransigence to foreign interference.
Earlier yesterday, French President Emmanuel Macron appointed a new government for the country, forming a team under the leadership of François Bayroux. He is his fourth prime minister this year, which must lead the EU's second-largest economy out of political crisis.
Macron appointed former prime minister Elisabeth Born as education minister in the new cabinet.
Another former prime minister, Manuel Valls, returns as overseas territories minister, and former interior minister Gerald Darmanin becomes justice minister.
Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot retain their posts, AFP reported.