Macron's centrist party stretches lead

PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron's new centrist party has stretched its lead in the polls ahead of parliamentary elections next month, new survey data showed on Thursday, adding to the positive momentum for the 39-year-old leader.

A survey from the Harris Interactive group showed that 32 percent of people planned to vote for Macron's Republique en Marche in the first round of parliamentary elections on June 11.

The figure showed a three-point gain from the week before, with the right-wing Republicans and far-right National Front losing one point each to stand at 19 percent.

Macron named a mix of prominent and unknown figures from the left and the right on Wednesday to make up the government tasked with pushing through his plans to reduce labor protections, tighten European unity and boost military spending.

The most senior Cabinet job, the post of interior minister, went to Gerard Collomb, 69, the longtime Socialist mayor of Lyon who played a key role in Macron's presidential bid. Collomb said his duty will be to protect the French people, to fight terrorism and to prevent youth from falling "in the grip" of the Islamic State group.

A few hours after taking office, Collomb made an unexpected visit to Paris' Champs-Elysees avenue, where a police officer was shot to death by an extremist last month.

Jean-Yves Le Drian, 69, who led France's military operations abroad as former president Francois Hollande's defense minister, will stay on in Macron's government as foreign minister and also be in charge of European affairs. Le Drian, another Socialist, brings deep experience that could prove valuable to the untested 39-year-old leader.

The armed forces will now be led by Sylvie Goulard, the most senior woman in the government. Goulard, 52, is a European Parliament member and strongly pro-European centrist politician.

In an important gesture to the right-wing Republicans party ahead of parliamentary elections next month, the crucial Economy Ministry will be run by prominent conservative Bruno Le Maire, 48.

The Cabinet includes 18 ministers and 4 junior ministers, half of them women and half men. Center-right Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, whom Macron tapped named on Monday, is to lead the government at least until the elections.

Members of civil society without government work on their resumes were appointed to some ministerial posts. Nicolas Hulot, the well-known host of a TV show focusing on nature and the environment, was named minister for environment transition. His portfolio includes energy and transportation.

Muriel Penicaud, the new labor minister, previously worked for food corporation Danone and French telecommunications group Orange.

Culture Minister Francoise Nyssen is CEO of French publishing house Actes Sud.

The youngest person selected to work in Macron's government was Mounir Mahjoubi, 33, who was named junior minister for digital economy. As Macron's campaign digital chief, Mahjoubi was responsible for cybersecurity.

Ap - Reuters