(MENAFN) New French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced his cabinet on Sunday, assigning it the challenge of passing a national budget through a sharply divided parliament and addressing ongoing international crises.

Lecornu, formerly defense minister and a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, was appointed in September after former Prime Minister Francois Bayrou lost a confidence vote in the National Assembly while seeking support for an austerity plan to reduce national debt. Lecornu becomes the seventh prime minister to serve under Macron.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot will remain in his role. Under his leadership, France has maintained support for Ukraine and recently recognized Palestinian statehood to pressure Israel to halt its military campaign in Gaza.

Bruno Le Maire, the former economy minister, will now serve as defense minister as Macron pushes to strengthen the military and boost aid to Ukraine. The president has also pledged to send peacekeepers to Ukraine and expressed openness to expanding France’s nuclear deterrent to protect other European nations.

Economist and banker Roland Lescure has been named finance minister, while former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne will lead the Education Ministry.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin—both known for strict positions on immigration and security—will retain their posts. Culture Minister Rachida Dati, who is scheduled to face a corruption trial next year, will also remain in office.

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