French President Emmanuel Macron appointed a new government of France, forming a team under the leadership of Francois Bayrou. He is his fourth prime minister of the year, who is to lead the EU's second largest economy out of the political crisis.
Macron appointed former prime minister Elisabeth Born as education minister in Prime Minister Bayrou's new cabinet, the presidency announced.
Another former prime minister, Manuel Valls, is returning as overseas territories minister, while former interior minister Gerald Darmanin is becoming justice minister.
Defence Minister Sebastian Lecornu and Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot retain their posts, AFP reported.
Conservative Interior Minister Bruno Retaio, who has vowed to fight illegal immigration, also retains his post.
New Economy Minister Eric Lombard has the difficult task of presenting a budget plan for the coming year.
The inclusion of two former prime ministers shows Macron's desire for a government with a heavyweight, which enjoys stability and does not share the fate of Bayrou's predecessor, Michel Barnier.
The 73-year-old Bayrou's priority is to ensure that his government can withstand a no-confidence vote and that it passes a spending-cutting budget for 2025.
The unexpected return of Valls, premier from 2014 to 2016, to head the Overseas Territories ministry shows the importance of the post after authorities were heavily criticised for their response to the deadly Mayotte cyclone in the Indian Ocean territory. The natural disaster claimed the lives of at least 35 people.
Darmanin has long been known to want the post of foreign minister, but after days of intense discussions will have to settle for the justice ministry.
The announcement came at a time when France is observing a day of mourning in memory of the victims of the cyclone-hit Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte. It is France's poorest overseas territory.
Bayrou, head of the centrist MoDem group, which is allied to Macron's party, was appointed as prime minister on 13 December.
Many are already predicting that he will struggle to survive.
France has been mired in gridlock since Macron set his sights on snap elections this summer in the hope of bolstering his authority. The move proved unsuccessful as voters elected a parliament split between three rival blocs. | BGNES
