Familiar faces return in France’s new government: who is who

President Emmanuel Macron’s fourth prime minister of the year announced his new government last night (Monday, December 23), with two former prime ministers returning to government roles. 

The main objective of this new François Bayrou government will be to avoid a motion de censure, the vote of no confidence that led to the dissolution of Michel Barnier’s government, and to pass a new budget law in 2025. 

Read more: Centrist François Bayrou announced as new French prime minister

The new ministers 

The new government includes: 

• Élisabeth Borne, ministre d'État chargée de l'Éducation nationale, de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et du Numérique (education minister)

• Bruno Retailleau, ministre d'État chargé de l'Intérieur (interior minister)

• Gérald Darmanin, ministre d'État, garde des Sceaux, en charge de la Justice (justice minister)

• Éric Lombard, ministre de l’Économie, des Finances et de la Souveraineté industrielle et numérique (economy minister)

• Catherine Vautrin, ministre du Travail, de la Santé, des solidarités et des Familles (work and health minister)

• Manuel Valls, ministre d'État chargé de l'Outre-mer (minister in charge of overseas territories)

• Sébastien Lecornu, ministre des Armées (defence minister)

• Jean-Noël Barrot, ministre de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères (foreign minister)

• Rachida Dati, ministre de la Culture (culture minister)

Background 

Emmanuel Macron and François Bayrou unveiled a list of heavy-hitting names from French politics with the aim of creating a stable government that can resist opposition from the left or the right and stay in power. 

Élisabeth Borne, who was named first, was prime minister from 2022 to January of this year, being replaced by Gabriel Attal. 

Manuel Valls is another former prime minister, from 2012 to 2014. His appointment was the biggest surprise of the new government, showing the importance accorded by the president to the Outre-Mer territories following the criticism of how they have been handled previously.

Read more: Which two French prime ministers of the Fifth Republic also served as president?

Gérald Darmanin was named minister of justice rather than Xavier Bertrand, from the right Les Républicains party. The Rassemblement National (RN) party was opposed to the appointment of Mr Bertrand due to his anti far-right wing stance - Mr Bayrou needs RN support to avoid a motion de censure. 

Mr Bertrand stated on X that he refused to participate in a government that had been formed ‘downstream’ of Marine Le Pen. 

Eric Lombard, general director of Caisse des Dépôts et des Consignations, faces possibly the most daunting task of attempting to pass a new budget bill. 

Some ministers kept their roles from the previous government, including Bruno Retailleau, Sébastien Lecornu, Rachida Dati and Jean-Noël Barrot. 

No Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP) left-wing coalition member or RN member was named minister or part of the government. 

Mr Bayrou stated on X that he was very proud of the team of ministers assembled.