# French president Emmanuel Macron has named a new government, nearly a month after the appointment of prime minister Sebastien Lecornu. The big appointments include Bruno Le Maire, who is the new Defence minister, at a deeply sensitive time of tension with Russia over Ukraine. Roland Lescure, a close ally of Macron, is the new Finance minister, who has the difficult task of delivering an austerity budget plan for next year. Several key ministers have remained in their posts. Opposition parties say the cabinet represents an unwelcome continuity.
French president Macron appoints a new government amidst criticism