Macron’s New Government Unveiled, Blending Continuity and Surprise Returns
President Emmanuel Macron appoints a 18-minister team under PM Sébastien Lecornu, with Borne, Darmanin, and Retailleau retaining key posts, while former PM Manuel Valls and ex-minister Rachida Dati make headline-grabbing comebacks.
PARIS – In a decisive move to shape the final phase of his presidency, President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday unveiled his new government, appointing 18 ministers under the leadership of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The composition signals a strong emphasis on continuity, while a few strategic recalls of prominent political figures have injected an element of surprise into the new team.
The announcement confirms the retention of several heavyweight ministers in their posts, ensuring stability in key domestic policy areas. However, the return of former Prime Minister Manuel Valls and former Culture Minister Rachida Dati is set to dominate political discourse in the coming days.
Continuity in Core Ministries
President Macron has kept his trusted lieutenants in place at the helm of some of the government’s most challenging portfolios:
· Elisabeth Borne remains at the crucial Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research.
· Gérald Darmanin continues as Minister of the Interior.
· Bruno Retailleau stays on as Minister of Justice.
This triad of reappointments underscores a commitment to seeing through ongoing reforms in justice, security, and education.
Key Shifts and Notable Appointments
The most significant portfolio change sees Bruno Le Maire, a central figure in Macron’s economic policy for years, take over the Ministry of the Armed Forces, a critical role in the current geopolitical climate.
The list also features major political comebacks:
· Manuel Valls, who served as Prime Minister under François Hollande, returns to government as Minister for Overseas France.
· Rachida Dati, a former minister under Nicolas Sarkozy and a high-profile figure from the political right, is back as Minister of Culture.
The Full Cabinet Line-Up
The complete list of ministers appointed on Sunday evening is as follows:
· Elisabeth Borne: Minister of National Education, Higher Education and Research
· Manuel Valls: Minister for Overseas France
· Gérald Darmanin: Minister of the Interior
· Bruno Retailleau: Minister of Justice
· Catherine Vautrin: Minister of Labor, Health, Solidarity and Families
· Bruno Le Maire: Minister of the Armed Forces
· Roland Lescure: Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty
· Rachida Dati: Minister of Culture
· Eric Woerth: Minister of Territorial Organization and Decentralization
· Jean-Noël Barrot: Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs
· Agnès Pannier-Runacher: Minister for the Environment, Biodiversity, Forests, the Sea and Fisheries
· Annie Genevard: Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty
· Amélie de Montchalin: Minister of Public Accounts
· Naïma Moutchou: Minister for Transformation and Public Action, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology
· Philippe Tabarot: Minister of Transport
· Marina Ferrari: Minister of Sports, Youth and Community Life
· Aurore Bergé: Minister for Equality between Men and Women and for the Fight against Discrimination, Government Spokesperson
· Mathieu Lefèvre: Minister of Relations with Parliament
A Signal of Consolidation and Reach
This government appears designed to project experience and stability. The reappointment of core ministers suggests a focus on consolidation, while the inclusion of figures like Valls and Dati is seen as an effort to broaden the government’s political appeal and leverage seasoned operators for complex dossiers.
“The return of such heavyweight ministers indicates Macron’s priority is execution, not experimentation,” commented a political analyst from Sciences Po. “Bringing in Valls and Dati, however, is a bold stroke. It shows a desire to consolidate a strong, centrist bloc, drawing on experienced names from both the left and right to fortify his legacy.”
The new government is expected to hold its first council of ministers meeting in the coming days to outline its immediate agenda.