Marc Ayrault, a moderate Socialist with an affinity for Germany, took office as France's prime minister Wednesday and got to work by naming his Cabinet — a lineup that includes allies and veterans of previous governments. Socialist President Francois Hollande approved the appointments, in line with tradition, which give women half of the 34 posts — as he had promised during the campaign. The top appointments include former prime minister Laurent Fabius as foreign minister. Fabius replaces Alain Juppe and will have the job of carrying out Hollande's pledge to withdraw French troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year. Hollande's campaign director and one-time European Affairs Minister Pierre Moscovici was named finance minister, replacing Francois Baroin in the crucial post as Europe fights its debt crisis. Moscovici will be tasked with carrying out Hollande's vow to find ways to encourage growth in a continent where many countries are in recession. A newcomer to national politics, Jean-Yves Le Drian, will head the defense ministry, replacing Gerard Longuet. Le Drian, a friend of Hollande's for 30 years, has since 2004 been president of France's western Brittany region, where Hollande grew up. Christiane Taubira from French Guiana, was named justice minister — making her the highest ranking woman in the new Cabinet. A lawmaker since 1993, she authored a French law in 2001 making slavery a crime against humanity. In 2002, she was France's first black candidate for the presidency. Other women who received Cabinet posts include Marisol Touraine, minister for health and social affairs; Housing Minister Cecile Duflot, who's the leader of the ecology party; and several women who played important roles in the presidential campaign, such as Aurelie Filipetti, named culture minister, and Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, in charge of women's rights, a new Cabinet post, and government spokesperson. Manuel Valls, Hollande's campaign communications director and Socialist deputy since 2002, was named interior minister. However, Segolene Royale, the mother of Hollande's four children, and Socialist presidential candidate in 2007, was overlooked for a top job. Royale has said she is now eyeing the job of speaker of the house after June's legislative elections. Ayrault, 62, was welcomed to the prime minister's office, an 18th century mansion on Paris' Left Bank, on Wednesday by his predecessor, Francois Fillon. The two men chatted for half an hour before emerging. Fillon, a conservative and staunch ally of former President Nicolas Sarkozy, was driven away to applause by onlookers.
