France's new prime minister takes office

I / Paris May 16, 2012, 16:38 IST

France's new prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault is taking up his new responsibilities, a day after the country's new Socialist president was sworn in.

President Francois Hollande chose Ayrault, a moderate who has led the Socialists in Parliament for more than a decade, yesterday.

Francois Fillon is handing power to Ayrault (ay-ROW) in a ceremony at the prime minister's office in central Paris today.

Ayrault is a German speaker, seen as an asset for the new president, whose relationship with Berlin will be all-important. The rest of the government ministers will be announced later in the day.