Macron expected to name new French PM after days of political deadlock

President has struggled to find candidate who satisfies enough lawmakers in bitterly divided parliament

President Emmanuel Macron is expected to name a new prime minister on Friday after days of deadlock over finding a candidate to replace Michel Barnier, whose ousting by parliament pushed France into a fresh crisis.

Barnier was toppled in a historic no-confidence vote on 4 December and there had been expectations Macron would announce his successor in an address to the nation even a day later.