Under the French system, the president sets general policy while the prime minister is responsible for choosing a cabinet and the day-to-day management of government.
The announcement of a new French government was officially made by the Secretary-General of the Élysée Palace, Alexis Kohler, from the Jardin d’Hiver (Winter Garden) of the presidential palace.
Several influential figures in French politics retained their positions, including Gérald Darmanin as Interior Minister, Éric Dupond-Moretti as Justice Minister, Bruno Le Maire as Minister of Finance, and Sébastien Lecornu as Defense Minister.
Stéphane Séjourné, formerly in a civil partnership with Gabriel Attal, was appointed as France’s new Foreign Minister, succeeding Catherine Colonna.
Among the women appointed to cabinet positions, former Justice Minister Rachida Dati assumed the role of the new Culture Minister. Dati, who previously served under President Nicolas Sarkozy, had to leave the conservative Les Républicains party to take up her new position.
Catherine Vautrin took on the responsibilities of Health and Labor Minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra assumed leadership of the Education Ministry, and Sylvie Retailleau became the head of Education and Research. Prisca Thevenot, former Deputy Youth Minister, was appointed as the Government Spokesperson. the president sets general
Other cabinet appointments revealed on Thursday include:
– Agriculture Minister: Marc Fesneau
– Environment Minister: Christophe Béchu
– Gender Equality Minister: Aurore Bergé
– Deputy Minister for Parliamentary Relations: Marie Lebec
President Emmanuel Macron’s unexpected selection of Rachida Dati as the Culture Minister is considered a surprising move, likely to undermine his conservative adversaries, according to analysts.
Dati, a vocal former Justice Minister, possesses significant name recognition and popularity in France. The choice is seen as a substantial political maneuver, catching many by surprise. Roselyne Bachelot, a former minister under Sarkozy, expressed on BFM TV, “It’s a huge political coup, no one had seen that coming. She’s hugely pugnacious, she’s popular, and she’s popular with common people.”
With this strategic move of bringing in a prominent figure from the conservative camp, Macron’s government is perceived to be leaning even more distinctly to the right.