The French president’s close ally, centrist François Bayrou, whose name is often mentioned to succeed caretaker Prime Minister Michel Barnier, was expected at the presidential palace for a meeting with Emmanuel Macron around 08:30 local time (09:30 GMT), according to sources close to the consultations.

At approximately 08:08 GMT (local time), people close to the talks are expected to be briefed on the situation.

The president of the centrist Democratic Movement party already had a telephone conversation yesterday, Thursday, evening with the French president, who has pledged to announce the name of his new prime minister this morning.

It is currently not known whether Macron is welcoming the 73-year-old Bayrou to Elysee to announce his appointment as prime minister or, instead, to explain the reasons for not doing so.

Macron has postponed announcing the name of the new prime minister until this morning, his office said yesterday, while on Tuesday he had said he wanted to announce the future head of the French government within 48 hours.

The new government team is expected to replace the one led by Michel Barnier, who resigned last week after his government was voted down by far-right and left-wing MPs, plunging France into its second major political crisis in six months.