PARIS -- France's new government dominated by conservatives and centrists gathered for the first time Monday as Prime Minister Michel Barnier set budget and migrant issues as top priorities.

France’s new government dominated by conservatives and centrists gathered for the first time Monday as Prime Minister Michel Barnier set budget and migrant issues as top priorities. Barnier convened a meeting on Monday morning with newly appointed ministers ahead of a Cabinet session in the afternoon with centrist President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee presidential palace.

Following an unprecedented period where France was without a government, Michel Barnier has now announced a cabinet, which in composition is centre-right.

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 urged his freshly-appointed cabinet Monday to avoid "bluster" and "show respect for all our fellow citizens" as it gets to work, an official in his office said.

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.