There are 34 ministers appointed this evening in the new French government of Prime Minister Francois Bayrou. Announcing the list of new members of the executive after ten days of complex negotiations, the secretary general of the Elysée, Alexi Kohler, announced that the first council of ministers has been set for January 3 at 10 am. Bruno Retailleau, embodiment of he right wing of the Républicains (LR) has been confirmed as France's Interior Minister in Francois Bayrou's new government. Former French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has been appointed Minister of Education.
“I am very proud of the team presented this evening. An experienced government to reconcile and restore the trust of all French people”, wrote the French prime minister on X.
He then said he was “convinced” that he would not be disqualified by the National Assembly, a few hours after presenting his government. “I am sure that the government team will make sure that we are not censored,” he told the BFMTV channel. “The vast majority of French people think they live in an unsafe country,” Bayrou said. “There are millions and millions of French people who think we are an unsafe country.” “Regardless of their political opinions, left or right, they feel like they are not protected.” Bayrou denied any far-right “influence” on the composition of his government, following Xavier Bertrand's accusations, who claimed that he was kicked out of this team
under pressure from Marine Le Pen.
The Bayrou government team
The former Socialist Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, has been appointed Minister of State in charge of the Overseas Territories in the new government. Socialist Prime Minister at the time of Francois Hollande and during the terrible period of the jihadist attacks against Charlie Hebdo and HyperCacher, ten years ago, Valls – with a double French and Spanish passport – subsequently left French politics to run for office in Barcelona. The centrist Jean-Noel Barrot was, however, confirmed as Foreign Minister. The former Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, was appointed Minister of Justice. The appointments came after a day of national mourning in solidarity with the Mayotte archipelago devastated by Cyclone Chido. Emmanuel Macron participated in the minute of silence observed throughout the country, “together with the agents of the presidency in the courtyard of honor”, added the Elysée.
