French president

Emmanuel Macron, in a speech during his official Pacific territorial visit, instead said Paris owed "a debt" to French Polynesia's people and better compensation for victims of the tests.

The nuclear tests remain a deep source of resentment towards France and only 63 victims have so far received any reparations.

Philippe is a a member of the centre-right Les Républicains party and is close to Alaine Juppé, the former Prime Minister.

The choice of Philippe -- widely predicted by political pundits -- indicates Macron's desire to draw support from the conservative opposition and create balance, according to Emmanuelle Schön-Quinlivan, lecturer in European politics at University College, Cork.

The appointment is crucial for Mr Macron, who needs to do well in next month's parliamentary elections to push through his planned economic reforms.

Later he will travel to Germany to meet Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The 39-year-old former investment banker and economy minister was inaugurated yesterday in a ceremony at the Élysée Palace.

He promised to convince people that "the power of France is not declining - that we are on the brink of a great renaissance".