Factbox-Key ministers in new French government formation By Reuters

PARIS (Reuters) – Here are the key ministerial appointments after French President Emmanuel Macron’s office on Saturday presented the new cabinet that will report to Prime Minister Michel Barnier:

ANTOINE ARMAND, MINISTER OF FINANCE

Armand, 33, is a relative newcomer to politics. He was first elected to parliament in 2022 on Macron’s centrist ticket and was re-elected in July’s snap parliamentary elections.

In the new parliament, he was set to lead the lower house’s economic committee until Barnier nominated him for the top job at the powerful Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Armand is no stranger to “Bercy”, as the ministry is often called in France. He joined the elite group of financial inspectors after graduating in 2018 from the prestigious Ecole Nationale d’Administration, a training institute for future senior civil servants that Macron also attended.

He is assisted by Laurent Saint-Martin on budgetary matters, a sensitive portfolio that falls directly under the prime minister as France struggles to control a ballooning budget deficit and considers spending cuts and tax increases.

BRUNO RETAILLEAU, MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR INTERIOR

Bruno Retailleau, 63, has been a conservative senator since 2004. He is known for his far-right views and is the most senior figure from his Republican Party (LR) to join Barnier’s government.

Retailleau was a driving force behind the party’s shift to the right in an increasingly polarized political landscape, particularly on sensitive issues such as immigration.

As leader of the conservative group of senators, Retailleau has criticized Macron’s latest efforts to tighten immigration rules, advocating a much tougher policy, including constitutional changes that would allow for cuts to social services.

He has also pushed for tougher measures against left-wing and environmental activists and opposed Macron’s attempt to enshrine in the constitution the right for women to have abortions.

JEAN-NOEL BARROT, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Barrot, 41, is being promoted to foreign minister after serving as junior minister for European affairs since February 2024. Before that, he was Macron’s minister for digital affairs.

Barrot comes from a family with a strong political background. His father, Jacques Barrot, was a prominent French politician who held various ministerial positions and was a European Commissioner.

He provides the essential political balance in the government and comes from the centrist party of Francois Bayrou, the political veteran whose independent MoDem party is intended to keep Macron at his side.

BENJAMIN HADDAD, MINISTER OF EUROPE

Haddad, 38, is fluent in English and has excellent contacts in Washington DC, where he worked for years at a think tank. He was first elected to parliament in 2022 under Macron’s party colours.

He has been outspoken on diplomatic issues, particularly the war in Ukraine, convincing dozens of European lawmakers to sign a request to the US Congress to release aid to Ukraine by the end of 2023.

SEBASTIEN LECORNU, MINISTER OF DEFENCE

Lecornu, a loyal supporter of Macron, will remain in charge of the Defense Ministry.

This minister, who began his career in the conservative party, was excluded by the Republicans after being appointed as a junior minister in Macron’s government in 2017.