France : First Council of Ministers of the Attal government this Friday
Gabriel Attal’s team is already complete and has been known since Thursday, January 11. Comprising 14 members, including 3 junior ministers, the new government holds its very first cabinet meeting with President Emmanuel Macron on Friday.
Before the scheduled meeting at 11 a.m. (local time) at the Elysée Palace, Friday’s agenda is marked by handover ceremonies in the departments where portfolios have changed hands.
It’s worth noting that, apart from the prime minister and a few ministries, the government has not undergone a major facelift and maintains a certain level of stability. Bruno Le Maire (Finance), Gérald Darmanin (Interior), Marc Fesneau (Agriculture), Sébastien Lecornu (Armed Forces), Éric Dupond-Moretti (Justice), Christophe Béchu (Ecological Transition), and Sylvie Retailleau (Higher Education and Research) have retained their roles.
The handovers take place between Rima Abdul Malak and Rachida Dati at the Ministry of Culture, and between Olivier Véran and Prisca Thevenot, who becomes the new minister for Democratic Renewal and government spokesperson.
The notable observation is the rightward shift of the new French executive team with the arrival of Chirac loyalist Catherine Vautrin and Sarkozy-era figure Rachida Dati, coupled with a mandate for “action” and “results” by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.
