French government resigns in post-election formality

Resignation is a procedural move following the announcement of the official results of Sunday's presidential run-off

By Hajer M'tiri

PARIS (AA) - French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve submitted Wednesday the resignation of his government to outgoing president Francois Hollande in a formality following the proclamation of Emmanuel Macron as the country's new president.

The official results of Sunday's run-off round were announced by the Constitutional Council earlier on Wednesday.

Hollande accepted the resignation and asked Cazeneuve in a letter to handle affairs until the formation of a new government team, according to an Elysee statement.

Centrist Emmanuel Macron won 66.1 percent of the vote whereas his rival, the far-right National Front leader, Marine Le Pen, got 33.9 percent, according to the official results announced by the head of the Council, Laurent Fabius at a news conference.

Hollande will delegate his powers to Macron on Sunday, May 14.

Macron, 39, is set to appoint a prime minister and form a government as soon as he takes office as the country's 25th and youngest president.

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