French Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Monday urged his cabinet to "show respect for all our fellow citizens" as his freshly-appointed government went to work, backed by only a minority in parliament.

France's new Prime Minister Michel Barnier, gathering his cabinet for the first time on Monday, told ministers to focus on action rather than stunts as he sought to change voters' perceptions that previous governments had been too arrogant.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier asked his freshly appointed Cabinet Monday to avoid "bluster" and "show respect for all our fellow citizens" as it gets to work, an official said. A long wait for the new French government — 11 weeks after a snap election called by President Emmanuel Macron — ended Saturday when the new team was announced.

E UROPE IS A continent of coalition governments, painful to forge and fragile to maintain. Most European politicians are familiar with their challenges. For Michel Barnier’s new French government, however,

The new cabinet pulls in allies from the centre and right, despite left-wing parties winning France's election.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier's hard-won new government faced instant challenges Sunday as threats of a no-confidence motion in parliament multiplied.