See: France’s new government with surprise return of Sarkozy minister
Prime minister includes Rachida Dati and his former partner in cabinet
Gabriel Attal has moved into the official residence of the prime minister, the Hotel de MatignonHJBC / Shutterstock
Richard HenshellRichardHenshell
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Prime minister Gabriel Attal has announced his cabinet, which includes the surprise return of former Justice Minister Rachida Dati and a ministerial post for his former partner. We look at who is who in the new government.
The new government announced by Mr Attal on January 11 retains key ministers of Ms Borne’s cabinet in their posts, including the influential Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire and Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin.
However, the appointment of former Justice Minister Rachida Dati, who served under the right-wing government of President Sarkozy from 2007 to 2009, has raised eyebrows.
Following the announcement, Eric Ciotti, the leader of Les Républicains, announced her expulsion from the right-wing party.
“Have no fear, I enjoy fighting,” Ms Dati declared in a press conference on January 12. “And I will fight to defend the cultural exception of France.”
She had previously described President Macron’s party as one of “traitors of the left and traitors of the right” in an interview with France Interin 2021.
Another of Mr Attal’s appointments to raise eyebrows is of his former partner Stéphane Séjourné as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Mr Attal, who is very discreet concerning his private life, only confirmed that he was gay in 2018 after being ‘outed’ - meaning publicly revealing someone’s homosexuality- in a book by Juan Branco in 2018.
He was pacsed with fellow Renaissance party member Stéphane Séjourné for several years, and only confirmed that they were separated following his appointment as prime minister.
Mr Séjourné previously served as a Member of the European Parliament.
The appointment of his former partner to the cabinet is likely to provide Mr Attal with a vital ally in the face of senior cabinet members, several of whom were reportedly opposed to Mr Macron’s choice of prime minister.
