French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou presented his new government on Monday and appointed two former prime ministers, Manuel Valls and Elisabeth Borne, to his cabinet, according to a press release from the Elysée Palace.
Bayrou reduced the new government to 14 full ministries. Valls will head the ministry of overseas territories, while Borneo will head the ministry of national education, higher education and research.
Three ministers from the previous government, led by Michel Barnier, will retain their posts: Bruno Retailleau as Minister of the Interior, Sebastian Lecornu as Minister of the Armed Forces and Jean-Noel Barrot as Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Four female ministers from Barnier's government also joined Bayrou's cabinet. Rachida Dati will oversee the culture ministry and Catherine Vautrin will take over the portfolio of minister of labour, health, solidarity and family. Agnes Pannier-Runacher will remain at the helm of the ministry for ecological transformation, biodiversity, forests, seas and fisheries. Annie Genevard has been appointed Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.
To develop the 2025 budget, Bayrou has selected Eric Lombardo as the new Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty.
Following the announcement, Bayrou expressed pride in the newly formed cabinet and in a post on your account at X he referred to it as "a collective full of experience to reconcile and restore trust with all French people".
French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Bayrou as prime minister on 13 December after Barnier was ousted in a no-confidence vote on 4 December.
The first meeting of the Council of Ministers under the new government is scheduled for 3 January 2025.
CGTN/ gnews - RoZ
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