Macron names Close Supporters in Key Ministries for Debut Cabinet

Four days after taking office as France’s youngest president, Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday constituted his government with close supporters taking key ministries and a centre-right Les Republicains party politician, Bruno Le Maire appointed as economy minister.

Jean-Yves Le Drian, who served as defence minister under Macron’s predecessor Francois Hollande, was named minister for Europe and foreign affairs under Prime Minister Edouard Philippe.

Gerard Collomb, the socialist mayor of Lyon, takes on the key portfolio of interior minister, responsible for internal security as France remains under a state of emergency after deadly terrorist attacks over the past two years.

The president’s loyalist Sylvie Goulard, a liberal member of the European Parliament, was appointed minister of the armies, responsible for defence.

Francois Bayrou, head of the centrist Democratic Movement who rallied to Macron during the first round of the presidential election, was appointed justice minister.

Elysee Palace secretary general Alexis Kohler concluded the announcement by saying that Macron would hold his first government meeting on Thursday.

The meeting normally takes place on Wednesday but Macron and Philippe put back the ministerial appointments by a day, saying they wished to have extra ethics and tax compliance checks carried out on the prospective ministers first.

Source: NAN