New Socialist cabinet takes power in France

France unveiled President Francois Hollande's new government on Wednesday, with exactly half of the posts going to women – a promise the new head of state had made during his campaign.

Not counting the prime minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, who was appointed on Tuesday, the cabinet consists of 34 members, two more than the outgoing cabinet that served under conservative Nicolas Sarkozy.

There was some concern over the news that Martine Aubry, Hollande’s former party rival and one of the Socialist Party’s most experienced women, would not join the cabinet after she was declined the prime ministerial position.

There was also some criticism over the top-level posts being given to men, despite the cabinet being France’s first to reach gender parity.

Former prime minister Laurent Fabius, 65, who campaigned against the European Constitutional Treaty in 2005, was handed the role of foreign affairs minister, sparking concern among some Europhiles.

Pierre Rousselin, senior editor at French conservative daily Le Figaro, told FRANCE 24 that while the French might find him a “strange choice and a potential problem for Europe,” he may also turn out to be an advantage by gaining support from the majority of French people who voted “no” in the bitterly divisive 2005 referendum.

There was also some surprise over the appointment of Pierre Moscovici, 54, as finance minister. Moscovici was very close to Dominique Strauss-Kahn before becoming Hollande’s campaign manager. His post was expected to go to Hollande’s long term ally, Michel Sapin, who was instead named as labour minister.

Jean-Yves Le Drian, a 64-year-old local politician from Brittany, was named defence minister, while Manuel Valls, a free-market moderniser and a moderate within the Socialist Party, was named interior minister. Arnaud Montebourg, a 49-year-old from the left wing of the Socialist party, was put in charge of growth and industry.

Women in power

Christiane Taubira, from French Guiana, was named justice minister, making her the highest-ranking woman in the new cabinet. Outspoken and charismatic, the 60-year-old lawmaker authored a French law in 2001 making slavery a crime against humanity. She was the first black woman to run for president in 2002.

Other women who received cabinet posts include Marisol Touraine, minister for health and social affairs; housing minister Cecile Duflot, who is also the leader of the Green party; and several women who helped run Hollande’s presidential campaign, including Aurelie Filipetti, as culture minister, and Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, in charge of women's rights, one of two new cabinet posts. She will also act as government spokesperson.

Anne-Cécile Mailfert, a gender equality activist from women’s rights group Osez le Féminisme (Dare to be feminist), told FRANCE 24 that she felt that there was a “clear divide” between women and men on the cabinet, with women receiving less important roles, save for minister of justice. “This is a little bit disappointing,” she said, though recognising the numerical parity as a “positive example” for society.

The first cabinet session will take place on Thursday at 13.00pm Paris time.

THE FACES OF FRANCE'S NEW GOVERNMENT Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, minister of women’s rights and government spokesperson Moroccan-born Rhône councillor Najat Vallaud-Belkacem served as a spokesperson for both Ségolène Royal in 2007 and François Hollande in 2012. Laurent Fabius, minister of foreign affairs Laurent Fabius has been a fixture of French politics for the past 30 years. In 1984, at the age of 37, he became France's youngest-ever prime minister. Eight times elected to parliament, he has also served as finance minister and speaker of France's National Assembly. Pierre Moscovici, minister of finance A former supporter of shamed Socialist Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Pierre Moscovici, 54, served as minister for european affairs under Lionel Jospin’s government between 1997 and 2002. He started his political career as a member of the Revolutionary Communist League (LCR). Nicole Bricq, minister of environment A member of the French Senate, 64-year-old Nicole Bricq worked closely with Dominique Strauss-Kahn before he quit French politics to run the IMF. A specialist of both finance and environment, she is one of the surprise picks in President François Hollande’s government. Manuel Valls, interior minister Spanish-born Manuel Valls, a specialist of security and immigration, is seen as a moderate in the Socialist Party. He ran in the party primary and then acted as Hollande’s campaign spokesperson. At 49, he has been mayor of Evry, an outer suburb of Paris, since 2001. Christiane Taubira, minister of justice A member of parliament for French Guiana, she was born in the South American territory in 1952. Her candidacy in the 2002 presidential election is thought to have contributed to the shock defeat of the former Socialist prime minister, Lionel Jospin. Jean-Yves Le Drian, minister of defence President of the regional council of Brittany, 64-year-old Jean-Yves Le Drian is a long-standing friend of Hollande. He served as secretary of state for maritime affairs in 1991-1992. Valérie Fourneyron, minister of sport Sports medicine doctor and deputy mayor of Rouen (François Hollande’s hometown), 52-year-old Valérie Fourneyron headed the sports dossier as part of Hollande's campaign team. Prior to that, she supported Hollande's rival for the Socialist nomination, Martine Aubry. Jérôme Cahuzac, minister of budget A senior advisor on budgetary matters and head of the parliamentary finance committee, Jérôme Cahuzac is thought of as the Socialist Party’s financial expert despite having trained as a plastic surgeon. He is currently both an MP and mayor in central France. Aurélie Filippetti, minister of culture A Green Party member before joining the Socialists to support Ségolène Royal in 2006, Aurélie Filippetti has been MP for the northeastern constituency of Moselle since 2007. She was in charge of cultural topics as part of Hollande’s campaign team. Michel Sapin, minister of labour Member of parliament for the central constituency of Indre, Michel Sapin is a key economics advisor to Hollande and very close to the president, whom he has known since their youth. He has served as a cabinet minister under three former prime ministers. Fleur Pellerin, minister of innovation South Korea-born Fleur Pellerin has never been elected to office but works as a government official. She worked on new technology as part of Hollande’s campaign team and has called for digital development in France. Vincent Peillon, minister of education A trained philosophy teacher, Vincent Peillon served as Ségolène Royal’s spokesperson during her presidential campaign in 2007. He was in charge of education during Hollande’s campaign for the presidency. Arnaud Montebourg, minister of industry and growth Trained as a lawyer, 49-year-old Arnaud Montebourg is a fierce anti-globalisation campaigner. After coming third in the Socialist Party primary, he chose to back Hollande over run-off rival Martine Aubry. He’s deputy of the eastern constituency of Saône-et-Loire. Marisol Touraine, minister of health Deputy of Indre-et-Loire, 53-year-old Marisol Touraine is also a member of the committee for social affairs at the National Assembly. She was charged with social protection within the PS. Cécile Duflot, minister of housing Leader of France’s Green Party (EELV), 37-year-old Cécile Duflot, a town planner by profession, rallied behind Hollande in the second round of France’s presidential election after her party’s candidate, Eva Joly, picked up a mere 2.3% of the vote in the first round. Stéphane Le Foll, minister of agriculture A member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 2004, 52-year-old Stéphane Le Foll worked as François Hollande’s shadow cabinet leader during the latter’s time as Socialist Party chief between 1997 and 2008.