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Rachida Dati Returns to Lead French Culture in Cabinet Shake-Up

Friday 12 January 2024 - 15:20

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Paris - Rachida Dati has once again made history with her recent appointment as France's new Minister of Culture. The daughter of working-class Moroccan immigrants who rose to become the country's first Muslim female government minister is back in the cabinet nearly 15 years after holding the esteemed role of Justice Minister under former President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Dati's comeback is part of a comprehensive cabinet reshuffle orchestrated by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on behalf of President Emmanuel Macron. While key figures like Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire remain in place, the overhaul has introduced fresh faces to high-profile positions. Stéphane Séjourné now leads foreign affairs as the foreign minister, and Prisca Thévenot assumes the spokesperson role.

As the mayor of Paris' 7th arrondissement for the center-right Les Républicains, Dati achieved an improbable political victory on a platform of law and order. Her appointment in 2007 shattered glass ceilings, serving as a beacon of diversity and meritocracy. Although she faced controversy over consulting work a decade ago, Dati has forcefully denied any wrongdoing and views her new role in culture as another opportunity to serve the nation.

The reshuffle also elevated Catherine Vautrin to the high-ranking role of Minister of Labor, Health, and Solidarity. In a government largely dominated by men, Macron's streamlined administration aims to promote qualified candidates across gender and ideological lines. With veterans retaining their positions and newcomers like Dati and Vautrin breaking new ground, this cabinet refresh seeks to govern with vision and versatility. Under the leadership of figures defying expectations, France charts an innovative path forward.