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.
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.
Tilt to right as French PM Barnier appoints government after months of deadlock
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.
As leader of the conservative group of senators, Retailleau has criticised Macron's latest attempts to toughen immigration rules, calling for a much tougher stance that would include constitutional changes allowing welfare benefit cuts.
He has also urged tougher policing on left-wing and environmental protesters and opposed Macron's push to add the right for women to pursue an abortion to the constitution.
Jean-Noel Barrot, foreign minister
Barrot, 41, is promoted to foreign minister after serving as junior minister for European affairs since 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 essential political balance for the government, hailing from the centrist party of Francois Bayrou, the political veteran whose independent MoDem party Macron needs to keep on his side.
Impeachment proceedings against France's Macron pass first hurdle
Benjamin Haddad, Europe minister
Haddad, 38, a fluent English-speaker with excellent contacts in Washington, DC, where he spent years working at a think-tank, was first elected to parliament in 2022 under Macron's party colours.
He has been vocal on diplomatic issues and especially the war in Ukraine, having convinced tens of European lawmakers to sign a plea to the US Congress to unlock aid for Ukraine at the end of 2023.
Sebastien Lecornu, defence minister
Lecornu, a Macron loyalist, remains in his post at the helm of the Defence Ministry.
A low-profile minister who started his career in conservative ranks, he was excluded from the Republicans after being named a junior minister in Macron's government in 2017.
(Reuters)
