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French government reshuffle sees former PM return as foreign minister

Jean-Marc Ayrault, President Hollande's first PM, is among nine new government members, including Green party leader Emmanuelle Cosse.

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President François Hollande on Thursday named Jean-Marc Ayrault as France’s new foreign minister, amid a minor government reshuffle that saw a handful of environmental leaders return to his cabinet, reports FRANCE 24.

Ayrault, 66, will replace veteran foreign minister Laurent Fabius, who bowed out of politics on Wednesday after being named to head France's Constitutional Council.

Close to Hollande, Ayrault served as his first prime minister between 2012 and 2014 before being replaced by Manuel Valls.

Hollande named the leader of the French Green Party (EELV), Emmanuelle Cosse, as housing minister, in what many said was a bid to widen his political base ahead of next year’s presidential elections.

Two dissident EELV lawmakers, Barbara Pompili and Jean-Vincent Placé, also joined the government as secretaries of state.

Read more of this report from FRANCE 24.