French President Emmanuel Macron named a new government on Sunday, putting together a team of largely familiar faces under Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu as he struggles to pull the country out of a political crisis, AFP reports.
The new cabinet lineup was unveiled nearly a month after the appointment of Lecornu, Macron's seventh prime minister.
The latest premier risks being toppled by the opposition in a deeply divided parliament despite his efforts to obtain cross-party support, and opposition leaders on the right and left were livid on Sunday night.
Bruno Le Maire, who served as economy minister from 2017 to 2024, was named defence minister at a deeply sensitive time of tension with Russia over Ukraine.
Roland Lescure, a Macron loyalist, was named to take over the economy portfolio, with the difficult task of delivering an austerity budget plan for next year.
But many of the other key ministers kept their jobs.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot retained his post, the presidency said.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who has vowed to crack down on illegal immigration, and Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin both stayed put.
Rachida Dati, a scandal-ridden culture minister who is set to stand trial for corruption next year, also remained in place.
The presidency unveiled a total of 18 names, with more appointments to be announced at a later stage.
