France's Prime Minister Bayrou names new cabinet

RFI

23 December 2024 at 1:57 pm·1-min read

France's Prime Minister François Bayrou announced his cabinet after France observed a national day of mourning for the victims in Mayotte of Cyclone Chido.

France's Prime minister François Bayrou unveiled his top ministers on Monday night after protracted talks with party chiefs across the political spectrum.

Former prime minister Elisabeth Borne was named as Education Minister in the reshuffle. Gerald Darmanin, who served as Interior Minister between July 2020 and September 2024 under three prime ministers, returns as Justice Minister.

Bruno Retailleau, a conservative who has vowed to crack down on illegal immigration, retains his post as Interior Minister. Rachida Dati keeps the culture portfolio while Jean-Noel Barrot and Sebastien Lecornu maintain their jobs leading the foreign affairs and defence ministries respectively.

The composition of the cabinet was unveiled just before 7pm following a frantic weekend of negotiations.

Xavier Bertrand, who had been offered the Justice Ministry, stated that he would not join Bayrou's government, because it had been formed with the approval of Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN).

Bayrou drafted Manuel Valls back into government as minister for overseas territories. The 62-year-old served as prime minister under President François Hollande between April 2014 and December 2016. His first assignment will be to implement a recovery programme for Mayotte which was devastated after Cyclone Chido swept through the Indian Ocean archipelago on 14 December. At least 35 people have been confirmed dead and more than 2,500 injured. The death toll is expected to rise due to the number of undocumented migrants in Mayotte.

(with newswires)

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