French Cabinet Set for Minor Reshuffle after Socialist Win
French President Francois Hollande is to carry out a minor cabinet reshuffle on Thursday after his Socialist Party won an absolute majority in last week's parliamentary elections.
The new government headed by Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault will be known on Thursday evening, Hollande said on the sidelines of the Rio+20 summit in Brazil and will hold its first cabinet meeting on Friday.
A government source said that the reshuffle could involve as few as two ministers and would not contain any surprises after Hollande became president last month.
All 24 members of the 34-minister cabinet that stood in last Sunday's parliamentary run-off won their seats and so can remain in the cabinet. The other ministers are not MPs.
The reshuffle will also be an opportunity to allow members of allied parties other than the Greens or Left Radicals to join the government. The French Communist Party (PCF) on Wednesday voted not to join the government.
Former PCF head Robert Hue, now with his own Unitary Progressive Movement (MUP), could be in line for a portfolio.
Junior justice minister Delphine Batho has reportedly not been getting on well with her boss Justice Minister Christiane Taubira and could instead get the immigration portfolio under Interior Minister Manuel Valls.
Employment Minister Michel Sapin who is having to battle problems on many fronts of the stricken French economy may be given a junior minister to look after professional training.
Source: Agence France Presse
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