Macron has said he could hold a referendum to get his reforms through parliament

We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again.

Speaking at the Palace of Versailles, Mr Emmanuel Macron said he wanted to cut the number of MPs by a third and introduce a certain amount of proportional representation.

The new French leader said: “I want all these deep reforms that our institutions seriously need to be done within a year.

"These reforms will go to parliament but, if necessary, I will put them to voters in a referendum.”