France’s new French president Emmanuel Macron has picked his government with a mixture of Left and Right wingers and gender parity, including a female defence minister.
Mr Macron, 39, had delayed announcing the ministers due to last-minute negotiations and checks that none had tax issues.
He had announced his intention to have a slimmed-down government of 15 ministers. In the event, some 22 were named, half women, half men and including figures from civil society. A member of the Macron entourage said that 16 were “full ministers” and four junior ministers.
“This is another promise kept by the president,” said the source.
“This is a government of renewal that only has two figures who were ministers in the previous administration,” she added. “It translates an unprecedented reconstruction of our political life.”
After naming conservative Edouard Philippe, a member of The Republicans party, as his prime minister on Monday, Mr Macron picked Gerard Collomb, veteran Socialist mayor of Lyon, as interior minister and government number two.
Sylvie Goulard, a centrist MEP, was named armed forces minister.
Mr Macron picked Bruno Le Maire a pro-European, German-speaking Right-winger from The Republicans, as his economy minister.
Francois Bayrou, centrist leader of Modem, was named justice minister, and will be in charge of pushing through Mr Macron’s first law on “moralising” political life.
Nicolas Hulot, a highly popular former wildlife documentary TV presenter, seen as the Gallic David Attenborough, was named environment minister, after refusing to join the cabinets of several previous administrations.
While gender parity was respected, commentators pointed out that only one of the top five roles – defence – went to a woman with the 10 other female appointees taking culture, labour, sports and health, among other portfolios.
A publisher became culture minister, just one of several political newcomers Mr Macron had promised to bring into his team, along with Mr Hulot.
Olympic fencing champion Laura Flessel, 45 and from the French island of Guadeloupe was named sports minister.
