France unveils new government as battle over budget looms
Al Jazeera
President Macron names a new government, putting together a team under Francois Bayrou, his fourth prime minister of the year.
France has unveiled a new government, comprised of former ministers and senior civil servants that Prime Minister Francois Bayrou hopes can oversee the passage of a 2025 budget and avoid a collapse that would deepen the country’s crisis.
Bayrou on Monday put together the government that enters office after months of political deadlock and pressure from financial markets to reduce France’s mounting debt.
The names were read out by President Emmanuel Macron’s chief of staff, Alexis Kohler.
Eric Lombard, 66, the head of Caisse des Depots, the investment arm of the French government, became finance minister, working with Amelie de Montchalin as budget minister.
Conservative Bruno Retailleau remained interior minister. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu also remained in their posts.
