PARIS (Reuters) – Here are the key ministerial appointments after French President Emmanuel Macron's office on Saturday unveiled a new cabinet that will report to Prime Minister Michel Barnier:
ANTOINE ARMAND, MINISTER OF FINANCE
A political newcomer, Armand, 33, was first elected to parliament in 2022 on a centrist ticket from Macron's camp and was re-elected in July legislative elections.
In the new parliament, he would head the economy committee in the lower house until Barnier appointed him to the top post in the powerful Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Armand is no stranger to “Bercy” as the department is often called in France, having joined the audit team after graduating in 2018 from the Ecole Nationale d'Administration – the training college for future civil servants where Macron studied. .
He will be supported by Laurent Saint-Martin on budget matters, a sensitive portfolio that will report directly to the prime minister, as France struggles to contain a growing budget deficit and considers spending cuts and tax increases.
BRUNO RETAILLEAU, MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR
A conservative member of parliament since 2004, Bruno Retailleau, 63, is known for his strong views and is the top figure in his Republican Party (LR) to enter Barnier's government.
Retaileau has been instrumental in the party's shift to the right in an increasingly divisive political landscape, particularly on hot-button issues such as immigration.
As the leader of the senatorial group, Retaileau has criticized Macron's recent efforts to toughen immigration laws, calling for a tougher resolution that would include constitutional changes that would allow cuts to welfare benefits.
He also called for tougher policing of left-wing and environmental protesters and opposed Macron's campaign to add the right for women to seek abortions to the constitution.
JEAN-NOEL BAROT, PRIME MINISTER
Barrot, 41, is promoted to foreign minister after serving as junior minister for European affairs from February 2024. Before that he was Macron's minister for digital affairs.
Barrot comes from a family with a strong political background. His father, Jacques Barrot, was a prominent French politician who served in various ministerial positions and as a European commissioner.
He provides an important political balance to the government, coming from the party of Francois Bayrou, a veteran politician whose independent party MoDem Macron needs to keep on his side.
BENJAMIN HADDAD, PRIME MINISTER OF EUROPE
Haddad, 38, who speaks English fluently and has excellent contacts in Washington, DC, where he spent years working in a think tank, was first elected to parliament in 2022 under the colors of Macron's party.
He has been talking about political issues, especially the war in Ukraine, which has convinced tens of European lawmakers to sign a petition to the US Congress to open aid to Ukraine by the end of 2023.
SEBASTIEN LECORNU, MINISTER OF DEFENSE
Lecornu, loyal to Macron, remains in his position in charge of the Ministry of Defense.
A low-ranking minister who started his career in the Conservative ranks, he was not included in the Republicans after being appointed as a junior minister in Macron's government in 2017.
