In the midst of a crisis, France has a new government

The Élysée unveiled the new French government on Monday, marked by the return of two former prime ministers, facing a fragmented National Assembly where oppositions are threatening censorship.

Questioned after the announcement of the composition of his government, Prime Minister François Bayrou, appointed ten days ago, defended his choices and called for escape from the realization of helplessness.

I think we are in the situation […] the most difficult we have known since the war, with a country which has no budget, a country which does not have a majority, a country in which a large number of French people think and believe that they are left behind side, that we don't pay attention to themlamented the Prime Minister on BFMTV.

The country's first challenge is educationaffirmed François Bayrou in reference to the appointment of Élisabeth Borne as Minister of State for National Education, Higher Education and Research. Less than a year after her resignation from Matignon, Élisabeth Borne became number 2 in the Bayrou government.

Manuel Valls, Prime Minister under François Hollande, was appointed Minister of State for Overseas Territories at a time when overseas territories are facing numerous crises. Recently, Mayotte was devastated by Cyclone Chido.

I am sure that this has never happened, to have a Ministry of State, second on the government's list, which will take care of Overseas Territories.welcomed François Bayrou.

One of the heaviest issues for this country is the Overseas Territories, which are very fragile, very destabilized societies, which have the feeling that they are not being taken care of.he added.

In a context of budgetary crisis, the reins of Bercy are entrusted to Éric Lombard, general director of the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, who takes over from Antoine Armand at the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industrial Sovereignty and digital.

He will be supported by Amélie de Montchalin, former Minister of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion in particular, appointed Minister responsible for Public Accounts, and by Marc Ferracci, appointed Minister responsible for Industry and Energy.

Another return, that of Gérald Darmanin, former Minister of the Interior, who regains the Justice portfolio.

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Catherine Vautrin was appointed Minister of Labor, Health, Solidarity and Families, a position she had held under Gabriel Attal.

Former member of the Socialist Party before becoming one of the first supporters of Emmanuel Macron and former Minister of Labor under François Hollande, François Rebsamen, 77, was appointed Minister of Local Authorities and Regional Planning.

Several ministers from the Barnier government were reappointed on Monday. The Ministry of the Interior remains in the hands of Senator from Vendée (Les Républicains) Bruno Retailleau, a figure of the conservative right advocating a firm policy on immigration.

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Sébastien Lecornu and Jean-Noël Barrot were returned to the Ministry of the Armed Forces and the Quai d'Orsay, respectively.

Rachida Dati kept Culture, and Annie Genevard, Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

The first council of ministers of the Bayrou government will be held on January 3, announced Alexis Kohler, secretary general of the Élysée.

Approached at the Ministry of Justice, Xavier Bertrand declared in a press release that he would not join the Bayrou government. Despite his new proposals, I refuse to participate in a French government formed with the approval of Marine Le Pen. Accepting on these conditions would have been a denial of my values, my commitment and my struggles.writes the president of the Hauts-de-France region.

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Questioned by BFMTV about the refusal by Xavier Bertrand, the Prime Minister refuted any influence of the RN. It is not true that any influence whatsoever was exerted on me […] He told me that he only wanted Justice. I received him, he explained his views to me and I did not recognize myself in his views.

I offered him the Ministry of Agriculture, he told me noadded François Bayrou.

Before forming his government team, François Bayrou consulted for several days the parties represented in Parliament with the ambition of sealing a non-censorship pact which would allow his government to last while the previous one lasted only three months before being overthrown.

The new executive will very quickly have to set about establishing a new draft budget for 2025 – on which Michel Barnier's government collapsed – in a context of clear deterioration in public finances.

In the absence of a budget for 2025, a special bill aimed at allowing the executive to collect taxes and borrow on the markets was voted on Monday in the National Assembly, then on Wednesday in the Senate.

François Bayrou wanted to address in a letter the ministers who were not reappointed.

To everyone, I want to express my gratitude. None of you are unaware of the difficulties we face. To those of you who will not be members of the next government, I want to say that I will do everything I can to ensure that their qualities and dedication can be useful to the countries.