Nicolas Sarkozy has appointed one of his most moderate allies as France’s prime minister in an attempt to win support for the contentious labour reforms he has said are essential to the country’s economic future.

The new president named François Fillon, the mastermind of his election victory and former education minister, as prime minister after assuming the presidency. Mr Fillon is seen by the left as one of the “least detested” members of Mr Sarkozy’s team.