PARIS, May 17 (RIA Novosti) - France's new president, Nicolas Sarkozy, appointed Thursday Francois Fillon, former education minister and ex-senator, as prime minister, the Elysee Palace press service said.
In his first day in office, Sarkozy signed the decree to appoint Fillon, 53, who had advised the new leader on his election campaign. Fillon will succeed Dominique de Villepin who has led the government for two years.
"The president of the republic has appointed Francois Fillon prime minister and instructed him to form the new government," the presidential press service said.
Fillon arrived at the Elysee Palace early Thursday to meet with the president at a business breakfast and discuss his first steps as premier.
Further government appointments are expected later Thursday or Friday morning. The list of candidates includes members of both the ruling center-right party, Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), the centrists and the left-wing opposition.
The list was compiled shortly after Sarkozy's victory of May 6, during consultations, which involved Fillon and the campaign chief of staff, Claude Gueant, now chief of staff at the Elysee Palace.
