After months of political deadlock following July’s snap elections, France has a new government. Prime Minister Michel Barnier unveiled the cabinet late Saturday, with conservatives and centrists taking the lead – signalling a shift to the right. Here's a breakdown of the key ministers, reports RFI.
Antoine Armand, finance minister
A relative newcomer to politics, Armand, 33, was first elected to parliament in 2022 on the centrist ticket of Macron's camp and was re-elected in July's snap legislative election.
In the new parliament, he had been set to head the economic committee in the lower house until Barnier tapped him for the top job at the powerful Ministry of Economics and Finance.
Armand is no stranger to "Bercy" as the ministry is often called in France, having joined its elite corps of finance inspectors after graduating in 2018 from the prestigious Ecole Nationale d'Administration – a training college for future senior civil servants that Macron also attended.
He will be seconded by Laurent Saint-Martin on budget issues, a delicate portfolio that will report directly to the prime minister, as France struggles to contain a rising budget deficit and contemplates spending cuts and tax hikes.
Bruno Retailleau, interior minister
A conservative senator since 2004, Bruno Retailleau, 63, is known for his hard-right views and is the most senior figure from his Republicans (LR) party to enter Barnier's government.
Retailleau was a driving force behind the party's shift to the right in an increasingly polarised political landscape, in particular on hot-button issues such as immigration.