By Necva Tastan Sevinc
ISTANBUL (AA) – France unveiled its new government on Monday, bringing an end to weeks of political uncertainty following the ouster of former Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet earlier this month.
The new 39-member Cabinet, announced by President Emmanuel Macron's Chief of Staff Alexis Kohler from the Elysee Palace, features a blend of seasoned politicians and unexpected appointments in key roles.
Bruno Retailleau kept his post as interior minister, maintaining oversight over national security.
Gerald Darmanin, a onetime interior minister, was reassigned to lead the Justice Ministry.
Jean-Noel Barrot continues as foreign minister, steering France’s diplomatic engagements on the global stage.
Benjamin Haddad assumed the role of minister for European affairs, focusing on France's relations within the European Union.
Eric Lombard was named economy minister, taking charge of the country’s economic strategy amid challenging times.
Former Prime Minister Manuel Valls was appointed minister for overseas territories. Valls, who held a position in Barcelona’s municipal government in 2019-2021, will confront pressing issues, including the ongoing crisis in Mayotte, a French Indian Ocean archipelago recently hit hard by a cyclone.
Another former premier, Elisabeth Borne, was named education minister. A veteran with an extensive portfolio, Borne previously served as transport, ecological transition, and labor minister.