Outgoing French President Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative government has officially resigned, paving the way for the inauguration of president-elect Francois Hollande next week.

Prime Minister Francois Fillon notified Mr. Sarkozy by letter Thursday that he and his ministers were resigning, although the Cabinet will continue to handle daily affairs until Mr. Hollande's May 15 inauguration.

Mr. Hollande met Thursday in Paris with Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who chairs meetings of eurozone finance ministers. Juncker left the meeting without comment.

Hours after he is sworn in, Mr. Hollande will travel to Berlin to confer with Chancellor Angela Merkel on how he plans to balance German-imposed austerity policies in Europe with his pro-growth plans.

Mr. Hollande, a Socialist, was elected on Sunday in a runoff vote with 52 percent of the vote to 48 percent for Mr. Sarkozy, whom voters punished for a stagnant economy, rising unemployment and signing on to the tough austerity measures.