French President Francois Hollande announced Tuesday that he had named Jean-Marc Ayrault as prime minister.

Jean-Marc Ayrault [File photo]

The appointment came after Hollande was sworn in at the Elysee Palace in the morning.

Ayrault, a 62-year-old Socialist politician, is currently mayor of France's sixth largest city Nantes, and president of the Socialist Party group in the National Assembly of France.

He was born in the western France's Nantes area and was a high-school German teacher before joining the Socialist Party in the 1970s. He has been the mayor of Nantes for over 20 years and the leader of the socialist parliamentary bloc for 15 years.

He has rich executive experience as mayor as well as extensive knowledge of the legislature, but has never held a post in the government.

Ayrault had backed Hollande since the 2011 socialist primary. "I have a real friendship with Francois, who is a reformer on the left," he said during the Socialist Party's primary in late 2011.

Analysts said that Ayrault is a prime minister who is competent and whom Hollande can trust.

French media said Ayrault's strengths include his fluency in German and his knowledge of politics in Berlin.

In France, the prime minister leads all other government ministries, oversees domestic affairs and is second only to the president in importance.

After the appointment, Ayrault will take over from French former Prime Minister Francois Fillon who had resigned on May 10 to pave the way for the new comer.

The new government will be formed on Wednesday, according to President Hollande's schedule.

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