French PM Attal's new cabinet maintains key defence, interior ministers

Under the French system, the president sets general policy while the prime minister is responsible for choosing a cabinet and the day-to-day management of government.

A new French government is officially announced by the secretary general of the Élysée Palace. Alexis Kohler made the announcement from the Jardin d’Hiver (Winter Garden) of the presidential palace, France 24 reports.

A number of French political heavyweights retained their posts. In addition to Darmanin as interior minister and Dupond-Moretti as justice minister, Bruno Le Maire retained his post as minister of finance and Sébastien Lecornu remains defence minister.

Stéphane Séjourné, who was once in a civil partnership with Attal, was named France's new foreign minister, replacing Catherine Colonna. 

Some of the women nominated to cabinet posts include former justice minister Rachida Dati as the new culture minister. Dati, who served as justice minister under former president Nicolas Sarkozy, had to leave the conservative Les Républicains party to take up her new post. 

Catherine Vautrin was appointed health and labour minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra will lead the education ministry and Sylvie Retailleau will head up education and research. Prisca Thevenot, previously deputy youth minister, was named government spokesperson.

Other cabinet appointments announced Thursday include:

• Agriculture minister:  Marc Fesneau
• Environment minister: Christophe Béchu
• Gender equality minister: Aurore Bergé
• Deputy minister for parliamentary relations: Marie Lebec

Dati’s appointment steers government further to the right

President Emmanuel Macron’s choice of Dati for culture minister was a surprise move that analysts say will further weaken his conservative opponents.

Dati, a vocal former justice minister enjoys strong name recognition in France.

"It's a huge political coup, no one had seen that coming," former Sarkozy minister Roselyne Bachelot said on BFM TV. "She's hugely pugnacious, she's popular, and she's popular with common people."

By poaching a big name from conservative ranks, Macron’s government now also leans even more clearly to the right.

PM’s former partner as foreign minister

Another surprise appointment was Séjourné, 38, as France’s foreign minister.

Séjourné is the head of Macron’s Renaissance party and the leader of the Renew Europe group of liberal, pro-European lawmakers at the European Parliament.

He also is Attal’s ex-partner. Attal, France’s first openly gay prime minister, made their relationship public when he first joined Macron’s government in 2018.

The two men never publicly confirmed their breakup, but in his October declaration to the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life, which compiles declarations by high-ranking officials to record potential conflicts of interest, Attal declared having no partner.

Séjourné's arrival means no woman holds any of the top jobs at the government, despite representing half of the 14 Cabinet members appointed Thursday in line with Macron’s commitment to gender equality.

Youngest-ever prime minister with an experienced cabinet

Macron chose Attal, a 34-year-old media-savvy loyalist, to breathe new life into his second term as his approval ratings plummet. His nomination sent a signal that change was under way as Macron attempts to revamp his government following a year of turmoil over controversial pension reform and an immigration law that critics said made too many concessions to the far right. 

Following his appointment on Tuesday, Attal promised to be bold in helping the middle class weather the rising cost of living, signalling a desire by Macron to improve his party's chances in the 2024 European Parliament elections. 

With Macron unable to run again, several ministers have publicly aired concerns that far-right leader Marine Le Pen has her best chance yet to win the presidency in 2027. 

The reshuffle is likely to intensify the race among Macron's camp to succeed him in the next presidential election in 2027, with former prime minister Édouard Philippe, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire all seen as potential candidates – alongside the fast-rising Attal. 

Thursday’s appointments kept some experienced politicians in key posts following criticism by some French politicians who raised doubts over Attal’s age and lack of experience. François Bayrou, a key ally of the president who leads the MoDem party allied to his ruling faction, raised doubts in comments to the Le Parisien daily, questioning if Attal "had the necessary experience to lead a country going through such profound difficulties".