France announces new cabinet, with foreign and defense ministers keeping their jobs
Bruno Retailleau also stayed on as interior minister
PARIS, December 23. /TASS/. French President Emmanuel Macron endorsed a new cabinet, with key ministers keeping their posts.
The list of cabinet members, who were approved at a meeting between Macron and newly-appointed Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, was read out by Elysee Palace Secretary-General Alexis Kohler.
Jean-Noel Barrot retained his job as foreign minister, and Sebastien Lecornu also remained defense minister. Bruno Retailleau stayed on as interior minister.
According to BFMTV, while Retailleau was the first minister of the outgoing cabinet that Bayrou met after his appointment, the new prime minister sought to replace Barrot and Lecornu. However, foreign affairs and defense are the areas where the presidents selects ministers, and Macron preferred to keep them.