THE French far right vetoed President Emmanuel Macron’s first choice to be the country’s new prime minister, it emerged today.

The new prime minister, Michel Barnier, pledged to work with “all those in good faith” towards more respect and unity in the politically divided nation.

In his first speech after taking office, Mr Barnier said: “The French today need and expressed their need for respect, unity and appeasement.”

Mr Barnier said that he would deliver his general policy statement to parliament in “a few weeks” and that he wanted to “respond to the challenges, anger and suffering” of the French people.

But it appears that Mr Barnier was not President Macron’s first choice to become prime minister.

Having ignored the nomination of Lucie Castets by the largest group in the National Assembly, the left-wing New Popular Front (NPF), French media reports say Mr Macron was intending to appoint right-wing lawmaker Xavier Bertrand to the role.

According to an anonymous government source, the proposed nomination of Mr Bertrand was vetoed by the far-right National Rally (NR) leader Marine Le Pen during a phone call between her and the president.

It’s not clear what was said during the call, but Ms Le Pen reportedly threatened to “immediately reject” a government led by Mr Bertrand. 

The NPF have already said that they intend to vote against anyone but Ms Castets, meaning Mr Macron needs the far right’s co-operation to install a right-wing PM.

Mr Barnier’s future as prime minister appears to now be in the hands of the NR.

Ms Le Pen said: “Barnier appears at least to meet one of the criteria we’d demanded, which was to have someone who would respect different political forces and be able to speak with the NR.”