Former prime ministers present

Macron announces: France has a new government

French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed two former prime ministers, Elisabeth Borne and Manuel Valls, to the new government. This is the fourth government reshuffle within a year. 

Borne will be responsible for education, Valls for overseas territories. The conservative former interior minister Gérald Darmanin will become justice minister, as the Elysée Palace announced in Paris on Monday.

Eric Lombard was appointed Minister of the Economy. He was previously Director General of the state financial institution Caisse des dépôts. Several political heavyweights have retained their posts, including Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, conservative Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who is close to Macron. Conservative Culture Minister Rachida Dati and Environment Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher will also remain in office.

The 73-year-old centrist Bayrou was appointed by Macron on 13 December as the successor to conservative Prime Minister Michel Barnier, who was ousted by a vote of no confidence following a budget dispute.