'Fillon to be named French PM'
2007-05-08 08:21
London - France's next president Nicolas Sarkozy will name former social affairs minister Francois Fillon as the country's prime minister, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.
Citing unidentified senior British government sources, the business daily said that Sarkozy told British Prime Minister Tony Blair of his plans in a telephone conversation between the two on Sunday night.
The paper did not quote its sources and Blair's Downing Street office was not immediately available to respond.
A Downing Street spokesperson had told AFP on Sunday night following Sarkozy's election victory that Blair's conversation with Sarkozy was "very very friendly and warm".
"The prime minister congratulated Sarkozy and Sarkozy thanked the prime minister for his congratulations," she said.
"He (Sarkozy) said he looked forward to meeting the prime minister soon. It was a very very friendly and warm conversation, though a very short one."
Fillon and current Employment and Social Cohesion Minister Jean-Louis Borloo are seen as likely candidates for the prime minister's post.
Sarkozy headed to Malta on Monday for a few days of vacation with his family after his convincing electoral win Sunday with 53% of the votes to 47% for his Socialist rival Segolene Royal.