New government formed in France, key ministers retain their posts

After confirming Elisabeth Borne as Prime Minister, Emmanuel Macron made a few changes to reshuffle the government.

President Emmanuel Macron decided not to dismiss Prime Minister Elisabeth Born, which could signal a reset of the country’s executive branch. As expected, Pap Ndiaye and Marlène Schiappa left the Cabinet, BFMTV reported.

Key ministers also retained their positions

Key ministers also retained their positions: Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.

Among the new arrivals to the Cabinet: Aurélien Rousseau, former chief of staff to Élisabeth Borne, becomes Minister of Health. Aurore Bergé, president of the Renaissance group in the French Assembly, is appointed Minister for Solidarity.

List of ministers in the Borne 3 government

The Élysée press release detailing the composition of the government has been released.

• Bruno Le Maire, Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty
• Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior and Overseas France
• Catherine Colonna, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs
• Éric Dupond-Moretti, Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice
• Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces
• Olivier Dussopt, Minister of Labor, Employment and Integration
• Gabriel Attal, Minister of National Education and Youth
• Sylvie Retailleau, Minister of Higher Education and Research
• Marc Fesneau, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty
• Christophe Béchu, Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion
• Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister for Energy Transition
• Rima Abdul-Malak, Minister of Culture
• Aurélien Rousseau, Minister of Health and Prevention
• Aurore Bergé, Minister for Solidarity and the Family
• Stanislas Guérini, Minister for Public Transformation and the Civil Service
• Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, Minister for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games

Macron’s popularity and France’s foreign policy

Macron’s popularity rating in France remains low but has begun to recover after a near-record drop in April: 31% of respondents in a poll in early July said they had a positive attitude toward him.

As you know, one of the most recent significant challenges for Macron has been resistance to unpopular pension reform, as well as unexpected large-scale riots after the death of a teenager shot dead by police during a traffic stop.

On July 13, the French parliament approved an increase in military spending for the next seven years in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and global threats.

As the ministers of foreign affairs and defence remain in office, this will mean strengthening the policy of supporting Ukraine in the current conflict with Moscow.