Macron tries to rebuild French govt after refusing to step down

PARIS - France's President Emmanuel Macron met key politicians on Dec 6 in an effort to cobble together a new administration, a day after saying he will serve out the remainder of his presidential term.

"The mandate you gave me democratically is for five years and I will exercise it fully to its term," Mr Macron, whose term ends in 2027, said in a televised speech on the evening of Dec 5.

He said he will appoint in the coming days a new premier, who will be tasked with forming a government of general interest representing all the political forces committed to not censuring it.

The speech came a day after Prime Minister Michel Barnier was evicted from office in a no-confidence vote backed by the far right and the left, over his plans for vast spending cuts and tax hikes to repair huge holes in public finances.