French PM Attal’s new cabinet maintains defence, interior ministers

 11:32,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. France's new Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, 34, unveiled his government on Thursday with several cabinet members remaining in their posts, including Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin and Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti, France24 reports.

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.

A new French government is officially announced by the secretary general of the Élysée Palace. Alexis Kohler made the announcement from the Jardin d’Hiver (Winter Garden) of the presidential palace.

In addition to Darmanin as interior minister and Dupond-Moretti as justice minister, Bruno Le Maire retained his post as minister of finance and Sébastien Lecornu remains defence minister.

Stéphane Séjourné was named France's new foreign minister, replacing Catherine Colonna. 

Séjourné is the head of Macron’s Renaissance party and the leader of the Renew Europe group of liberal, pro-European lawmakers at the European Parliament.

Some of the women nominated to cabinet posts include former justice minister Rachida Dati as the new culture minister. Dati, who served as justice minister under former president Nicolas Sarkozy, had to leave the conservative Les Républicains party to take up her new post. 

Catherine Vautrin was appointed health and labour minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra will lead the education ministry and Sylvie Retailleau will head up education and research. Prisca Thevenot, previously deputy youth minister, was named government spokesperson.

Other cabinet appointments announced Thursday include:

  • Agriculture minister:  Marc Fesneau
  • Environment minister: Christophe Béchu
  • Gender equality minister: Aurore Bergé
  • Deputy minister for parliamentary relations: Marie Lebec

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS