France's president unveils new cabinet lineup

PARIS: France's President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a new government on Sunday, after marathon talks to cobble together a cabinet and prevent the country from slipping deeper into a political crisis.

The lineup, a mix of old and new faces, is Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's second attempt at bringing together a team to overcome months of deadlock and pass a much-needed budget through a hung parliament.

Last Sunday he presented his first cabinet, but resigned a day later after the lineup was criticized for not having enough new faces. Macron reappointed him on Friday to try again.

"A mission-driven government has been appointed to provide France with a budget before the end of the year," Lecornu wrote on X on Sunday.

According to the lineup published by the presidency, Jean-Noel Barrot remained as foreign minister.

Outgoing labor minister Catherine Vautrin took on the defense portfolio.

Roland Lescure, a Macron loyalist, is in charge of the economy, with next year's budget as a top priority.

There were also new faces.

Paris police chief Laurent Nunez took over the interior ministry, replacing Bruno Retailleau whose right-wing Republicans party said it would not be part in any government this weekend.

Monique Barbut, the former France director of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), was to head the ministry of environmental transition.

Gerald Darmanin however stayed on as justice minister.

And Rachida Dati, a scandal-ridden culture minister who is set to stand trial for corruption next year, also retained her post.