Michel Barnier has become France’s favourite political figure, according to a surprise new poll, in a boost to the EU’s former chief Brexit negotiator two weeks after president Emmanuel Macron appointed him prime minister.

The full cabinet line-up was due to be announced later Friday or by Sunday at the latest, multiple sources told AFP, ending two-and-a-half months of deadlock created by inconclusive legislative elections that wrapped up in July.

France edged closer to having a new government, more than two months after a hung election, as new Prime Minister Michel Barnier's office said he had pulled together a list of ministers he will submit to President Emmanuel Macron later on Thursday.