French President Emmanuel Macron has delivered on his promise to achieve gender parity in government by appointing an equal number of men and women to his cabinet.
He also made good on his pledge to bring together figures from across France's political spectrum, with conservative moderates, socialists and centrists all represented.
Yesterday's announcement follows the appointment of Edouard Philippe, a conservative lawmaker from the Republicains party, as prime minister.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Of the 22 cabinet posts, 11 have been given to women, among them five-time Olympic fencing medalist Laura Flessel, who becomes minister of sport, and MEP Sylvie Goulard, the new defence minister.
However, four of the five biggest portfolios have gone to men: Bruno Le Maire, a conservative with Republicains, is economy minister; centrist Francois Bayrou heads up the justice department; socialist Gerard Collomb becomes interior minister, and the role of foreign minister goes to Jean-Yves Le Drian, who was in charge of defence under Francois Hollande.
Polling shows that the majority of French people are satisfied with Macron's new cabinet, "but they question whether it will be able to address the country's problems", says Politico.
However, says the New York Times, the President's cabinet picks aren't necessarily set in stone.
If Macron's En Marche! party receives "anything less than a decisive majority" in next month's legislative elections, "he could be forced to make individual changes or even completely reshuffle his cabinet to better reflect the makeup of the National Assembly", the newspaper says.
-
Taking the low road: why the SNP is still standing strongTalking Point Party is on track for a fifth consecutive victory in May’s Holyrood election, despite controversies and plummeting support
-
Has the Gaza deal saved Netanyahu?Today's Big Question With elections looming, Israel’s longest serving PM will ‘try to carry out political alchemy, converting the deal into political gold’
-
French finances: what’s behind country’s debt problem?The Explainer Political paralysis has led to higher borrowing costs and blocked urgent deficit-reducing reforms to social protection
-
Prime minister shocks France with resignationSpeed Read French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu submitted his government’s resignation after less than a month in office
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
