Who is in France’s new government? Ministers revealed today

The list of new French ministers has been revealed with some staying in their existing posts and other newcomers coming into the government.

The ministers will work alongside new prime minister Élisabeth Borne who was appointed by President Emmanuel Macron on Monday. She is France’s second-ever female prime minister.

Read more: Élisabeth Borne: Six facts about France’s new prime minister

Read more: Laws, national defence: what is the role of the French prime minister?

One new appointment to the government is Catherine Colonna, 66, who takes on the role of foreign affairs and Europe minister. She was until now serving as the French ambassador to the UK.

She has had a long career in politics and diplomacy, having previously served as ambassador to Italy as well as serving almost 10 years as former French President Jacques Chirac’s spokesperson, between 1995 and 2004.

She took up the role of UK ambassador in 2019, shortly before the UK officially left the EU.

In her time in the position she had to manage several fraught topics linked to Brexit such as disputes between France and the UK over fishing licences.

One of the big surprises of the announcement was the nomination of Pap Ndiaye to the role of education minister. The 56-year-old historian is known as an expert on French and US minority rights issues.

He was, prior to the appointment, head of the Paris exhibition hall the Palais de la Porte Dorée, which houses the Musée national de l'histoire de l'immigration.

The appointment is a contrast to France’s previous education minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer, who was right-wing and spoke often against so-called “left-wing wokism”.

Elsewhere, Clement Beaune has now become the Minister for Europe and will work alongside Ms Colonna on Europe-related affairs. Before he had the lower ranked title of Secretary of State for Europe, something akin to the UK title of junior minister. Some experts have suggested that this showcases President Macron’s greater emphasis on Europe as a key policy area.

List of France's new government

Ecological transition and territorial cohesion: Amélie de Montchalin

Economy and finance: Bruno Le Maire (unchanged)

Interior: Gérald Darmanin (unchanged)

Justice: Eric Dupont-Moretti, who is currently under investigation for possible conflicts of interest (unchanged)

Health: Brigitte Bourguignon

Equality Between Women and Men, Diversity and Equality of Opportunities:Isabelle Rome

European affairs: Clément Beaune

Europe and Foreign Affairs: Catherine Colonna (formerly French ambassador to the UK)

Culture: Rima Abdul Malak

Overseas Territories: Yaël Braun-Pivet

Transformation and the Civil Service: Stanislas Guérini

Agriculture and Food Security: Marc Fesneau

Higher Education and Research: Sylvie Retailleau

Solidarity, Autonomy and Disabled people: Damien Abad

Labour: Olivier Dussopt

Army: Sébastien Lecornu

National Education and Youth: Pap Ndiaye

Sport and Olympic and Paralympic Games: Amélie Oudéa-Castera, currently the director general of the Fédération française de tennis

Other appointments (not ministers)

Relations Between Parliament and Democratic Affairs: Olivier Véran (former health minister)

Minister Delegate for Public Accounts: Gabriel Attal (formerly government spokesperson)

Government spokesperson: Olivia Grégoire

Former French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, a hugely popular political figure who is now the mayor of Havre, is not part of the new government, a fact he has previously said he is quite happy with.

President Macron and Ms Borne will on Monday (May 23) lead the first weekly Conseil des ministres with new ministers.

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