Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen announced that she would name a eurosceptic from outside her National Front party as prime minister if she captures France’s presidency in the May 7 run-off.
In a bruising contest against pro-European centrist Emmanuel Macron, Le Pen is hoping to broaden her base enough to win the decisive second-round vote, despite polls suggesting she is some 20 points behind.
Le Pen, who has promised a French referendum on quitting the European Union, said that she and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan — who lost in the election’s first round with 4.7% of the vote — shared a “common project that we will promote together”.
“We will build a national unity government that will bring together people chosen for their skills and their love of France,” AFP cited her as saying.