- Title: New French government spokesperson brushes off claims of lurch to right
- Date: 7th July 2020
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 7, 2020) (REUTERS) NEWLY APPOINTED FRENCH GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN, GABRIEL ATTAL, ARRIVING FOR NEWS BRIEFING ATTAL DURING BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (French) NEWLY APPOINTED FRENCH GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN, GABRIEL ATTAL, SAYING: "It's a government of unity. It's a '600-day' government, as the president has said, since there remains a bit less than two years before the end of his mandate, and until the last day - from the first to the last day - we will fully commit to our tasks and we will work hard, with determination, with conviction, with force." ATTAL DURING BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (French) NEWLY APPOINTED FRENCH GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN, GABRIEL ATTAL, SAYING: "We should look at people based on what they do and not on what they are or were. Of course, we all share the same goals, the same priorities, and I believe - since I've read some of your colleague's articles, and they're saying that this government has become right-wing - that when we look at the numbers, and some of your colleagues will be disappointed with this, it seems that an article from a newspaper I cannot recall has showed that there are more people from the left than from the right in this government. But then again, I don't want to identify in this discussion, since I think it's a lie to consider this the key element in a government reshuffle." NEWS BRIEFING ENDING
- Embargoed: 21st July 2020 17:22
- Keywords: France Gabriel Attal government reshuffle ministers spokesman
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001CLT96X3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: President Emmanuel Macron's reshuffled government took office on Tuesday (July 7), with conservatives given prominent roles in efforts to rescue France's coronavirus-ravaged economy from the worst depression in decades.
Speaking after the new cabinet's first meeting, newly-appointed government spokesman Gabriel Attal disputed claims that the new ministerial line-up was more right-wing than before.
"We should look at people based on what they do and not on what they are or were," he said.
The new government is headed by Prime Minister Jean Castex, a civil servant who was in charge of the easing of lockdown and local mayor from the south of France.
Many big-hitters from the previous government including the foreign, health and education ministers kept their jobs, and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire was given a beefed-up portfolio, which now includes control over the budget.
But there were also new faces including Roselyne Bachelot at the culture ministry, who previously served as health minister under Jacques Chirac before turning media personality, and high-profile attorney Eric Dupond-Moretti who took over at the justice ministry.
(Production: Noemie Olive, Ardee Napolitano) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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