France's new Prime Minister, a moderate Socialist with an affinity for Germany who will no doubt be quickly pressed into service to tend to the nation's all-important relationship with Berlin, took office Wednesday, May 16.

The Associated Press reports that Jean-Marc Ayrault was welcomed at the 18th century mansion in central Paris that serves as the prime minister's office, by his predecessor Francois Fillon. The two men chatted for half an hour before emerging. Fillon, a conservative and staunch ally of former President Nicolas Sarkozy, was driven away to applause by onlookers gathered in the building's courtyard.

Ayrault waved his predecessor off and then it was time to get to work.

The 62-year-old has led the country's Socialists in the lower house of Parliament for more than a decade, but it is his knowledge of Germany and German that has attracted the most attention to Ayrault.