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New French President Announces his First Government

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French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during his inauguration at the handover ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris, May 14, 2017.
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during his inauguration at the handover ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris, May 14, 2017.

Newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron has named his Cabinet.

His first government is comprised of half men and half women, a mix of experienced politicians from a wide range of parties and newcomers from civil society.

Former French defense minister, Socialist Jean-Yves Le Drian, was named foreign minister. During his five years as defense minister under former president Francois Hollande, Le Drian supervised military operations in Mali, Central African Republic, Iraq, and Syria.

He joins Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who Macron named Monday, a day after taking office as president.

High profile rightwinger Bruno Le Maire was named economy minister — one of three conservatives in the Cabinet.

The new defense minister is 59-year-old centrist politician Sylvie Goulard, who began her career with the French Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Pro-European Goulard has been a member of the European Parliament since 2009 and also worked as a political advisor to the European Commission president from 2001 to 2004.

In his inaugural address, Macron vowed to restore France's place in Europe and the world. He also vowed to continue the fight against terrorism.

Macron, a centrist, was elected last week, defeating anti-EU, anti-immigrant candidate Marine Le Pen.

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