France has a new government, here is Bayrou’s team

France has a new government. Ten days after the assignment conferred by Emmanuel Macron to the centrist Francois Bayrou and three weeks after the fall of the government of Michel Barniera little while ago the announcement of the 34 ministers who will make up the new executive. The Republican Bruno Retailleau will remain Minister of the Interior, the director general of the Caisse des Dépots et Consignations, Eric Lombard, will go to Economy, the former Prime Minister of Francois Hollande, Manuel Valls, will be Minister of the Overseas Territories. Jean-Noel Barrot has been confirmed as Foreign Minister, while former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne will be responsible for National Education.

The announcement, after days of negotiations, came shortly after 6.30 pm from the secretary general of the Presidency of the Republic, Alexis Kohler, who read the list of ministers from the steps of the Elysée. Gerald Darmanin, former Minister of the Interior, becomes Minister of Justice, Rachida Dati remains at the Ministry of Culture. Annie Genevard will be Minister of Agriculture, Marie Barsac, Minister of Sports, Aurore Bergé, responsible for Equality and the fight against discrimination.

Sebastien Lecornu was also confirmed and remains at the Ministry of the Armed Forces, while the former socialist minister Francois Rebsamen was appointed minister of regional planning and decentralisation. Catherine Vautrin will be Minister of Labour, Clara Chappaz will be Minister Delegate for AI, Juliette Meadel will be Minister Delegate for Europe. Amelie de Montchalin inherits the public accounts.

Macron hopes for a more stable executive

The inclusion of two former prime ministers such as Valls and Borne, according to observers, indicates Macron’s desire to have a government that can maintain a certain stability after the negative experience of the Barnier government.

The unexpected return of Valls, prime minister from 2014 to 2016, as head of the overseas territories ministry indicates the importance of the position after the authorities were heavily criticized for their response to the cyclone over the Indian Ocean territory of Mayottewhich killed at least 35 people. The priority of Bayrou, head of the centrist MoDem group, an ally of Macron’s party, is to ensure his government can survive a no-confidence vote and pass a cost-cutting budget for 2025.

It has long been known that Darmanin ardently desired the position of Foreign Minister, but after days of intense discussions he will have to settle for the Ministry of Justice. The announcement came as France observed a day of mourning for victims in the cyclone-hit Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte, France’s poorest overseas territory. Bayrou defends the team, talks about an “experienced collective”, but many already predict that he will have difficulty surviving. The Socialists have already lashed out violently against the new executive: “It’s not a government, it’s a provocation”, said the secretary of the PS, Olivier Faure. “It is the far right in power under the surveillance of the far right,” he added. Criticism also from the far right, with the leader of RN, Jordan Bardellawhich talks about the “failure coalition”.

“I will not be disheartened”

Bayrou, for his part, said he was “convinced” that he would not be disqualified by the National Assembly, a few hours after presenting his government. “I am sure that the government team will make sure that we are not censored,” he told the BFMTV channel. – “The vast majority of French people think they live in an unsafe country”, declared the new prime minister, “there are millions and millions of French people who think we are an unsafe country. Regardless of their political opinions, whether left-wing or right, they feel that they are not protected.”

Bayrou denied any far-right “influence” on the composition of his government, following accusations from Xavier Bertrand, who said he was kicked out of this team under pressure from Marine Le Pen.