The composition of French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's new cabinet was unveiled on Monday, marking the return of several prominent figures to the Elysee Palace, including former prime ministers Elisabeth Borne and Manuel Valls. <br><span class="m-pub-dates__date">Issued on: <time datetime="2024-12-23T12:27:09+0000" pubdate="pubdate">23/12/2024 - 13:27</time></span><span class="m-pub-dates__date">Modified: <time datetime="2024-12-23T18:11:28+0000">23/12/2024 - 19:11</time></span><br>To display this content from , you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.<br>French President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced a new government Monday, after the previous Cabinet collapsed in a historic vote prompted by <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20241216-french-parliament-avoids-government-shutdown-by-passing-special-budget-rollover-bill" target="_self">fighting over the country's budget</a>.<br>Newly named Prime Minister Francois Bayrou put together the government that includes members of the outgoing conservative-dominated team and new figures from centrist or left-leaning backgrounds.<br>Coming up with a 2025 budget will be the most urgent order of business. The new government enters office after months of political deadlock and pressure from financial markets to reduce France’s colossal debt.<br><span class="a-read-more__label">Read more</span><a href="https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20241216-french-parliament-avoids-government-shutdown-by-passing-special-budget-rollover-bill" target="_self" class="a-read-more__link">French parliament avoids government shutdown by passing special budget rollover bill</a><br>No single party holds a majority in the National Assembly. Bayrou’s decades of political experience are seen as key in efforts to restore stability. <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/tag/marine-le-pen/" target="_self" class="gtm-add-suggested-tag">Marine Le Pen</a>'s far-right party helped bring down the previous government, and Bayrou’s Cabinet will seek to rely on moderate lawmakers from right and left to stay in power.<br>Banker Eric Lombard will be finance minister, a crucial post when France is working to fulfill its promises to European Union partners to reduce its deficit, estimated to reach 6% of its gross domestic product this year. Lombard briefly worked as an adviser to a Socialist finance minister in the 1990s.<br><a href="https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240924-restore-order-france-s-new-interior-minister-bruno-retailleau-signals-rightward-shift" target="_self">Hard-right Bruno Retailleau</a> stays on as interior minister, with responsibility for France’s security and migration policy. Sebastien Lecornu, who has been at the forefront of France’s military support for Ukraine, remains defense minister, while Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who has traveled extensively in the Mideast in recent weeks, also retains his post.<br><span class="a-read-more__label">Read more</span><a href="https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240924-restore-order-france-s-new-interior-minister-bruno-retailleau-signals-rightward-shift" target="_self" class="a-read-more__link">‘Restore order’: France's new Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau signals rightward shift</a><br>Among new faces are two former prime ministers. <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/tag/manuel-valls/" target="_self" class="gtm-add-suggested-tag">Manuel Valls</a> will be minister for overseas affairs, and <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/tag/élisabeth-borne/" target="_self" class="gtm-add-suggested-tag">Elisabeth Borne</a> takes the education ministry.<br><em>(AP)</em><br> © 2024 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved. France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. Audience ratings certified by ACPM.<a href="https://www.acpm.fr/Support-Numerique/site/france24-com" class="a-brand-logo a-svg a-svg--logo-acpm" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" title="ACPM"> ACPM</a> <br>The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.<br><br><a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirAFBVV95cUxPWGtZSnlaYk15ZDc5blBydHl4S3VtTFFLaDZraklyUmZJTmNXWnRSckRlaGIwd3RiSUh4SWo0aDd6ampkZDY3Zm5UdThsU2hTTHY2b2NuZkJLUmh1RTBSQUhydUJoejdXRGMxSEpFVWxqZHd4ZEtFUnFjTVFld1B5TzFzWllaZGlkZU94a0d0SkxhWXFNTTQwTW9ZQlBIWmpMbGFyYUE5aFptcW1G?oc=5">source</a>
