Emmanuel Macron: French President-elect under pressure to reveal name of his Prime Minister

One poll puts Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund, as the most popular option

French President-elect Emmanuel Macron (REUTERS)

Emmanuel Macron's reluctance to reveal who he will appoint as Prime Minister is causing speculation to mount over his pick for the key office.

Grilled over his plans last week, the President-elect gave no hints and refused to announce the name until after the transfer of power from Francois Hollande.

That means the pressure will build until 14 May at the very earliest.

Mr Macron said he had already made up his mind and that the proposed PM "will have experience in the political field, the ability to lead a parliamentary majority and the ability to drive a thoroughly renewed government which will also include some experienced men and women".

The defeated far-right candidate, Marine Le Pen, revealed her pick for France's second-highest office before the election's decisive second round on Sunday.

According to an Opinionway poll on 7 May, International Monetary Fund boss Christine Lagarde was the public's most wished-for choice in the case of a Macron win, with 13 per cent support.

Retired former ecology minister Jean-Louis Borloo was next, just ahead of centrist Francois Bayrou, a former education minister who endorsed Mr Macron.

Mr Bayrou, 65, is the head of the Democratic Movement.

France's parliamentary elections are due to take place next month and Mr Macron, whose political party En Marche! was founded a little over a year ago, must work hard to build a majority in the country's 577-seat legislative chamber.