Jean Castex named as new French prime minister

The 55-year-old relatively low-profile Jean Castex is a career public servant who has worked with multiple governments. Macron is reshuffling the government to focus on restarting the economy after months of lockdown.

Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named Jean Castex, who coordinated France’s virus reopening strategy, as the country's new prime minister.

The relatively low-profile Castex replaces Edouard Philippe, who resigned earlier in the day.

Macron is reshuffling the government to focus on restarting the economy after months of lockdown.

Castex, 55, is a career public servant who has worked with multiple governments.

France’s gradual reopening plan has been seen as generally successful so far.

AP