France’s Emmanuel Macron was on Friday due to pick a head of government tasked with pulling the country out of a political gridlock, in a move that staves off fresh elections for now. French politics have been deadlocked ever since Macron took the gamble last year of snap polls that he hoped would consolidate power – but ended instead in a hung parliament and more seats for the far right. Macron was due to meet with leaders of all political parties apart from the far-right National Rally (RN) and the radical left France Unbowed party at 1230 GMT on Friday at the presidential palace, informed sources told AFP. ... (full story)