This is one of the new faces of the new government announced this Friday, May 20. Rima Abdul-Malak has been appointed Minister of Culture. Other personalities little known to the general public are entering the government of Elisabeth Borne, such as Catherine Colonna appointed Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs and Pap Ndiaye, Minister for National Education and Youth. Overview.

On July 6, 2019, at the Festival of Ideas, at Charité-sur-Loire (Nièvre), Rima Abdul-Malak talks alongside many left-wing personalities. The subject of the debate in which she intervenes: “Do you have to dream to do politics?” The new Minister of Culture, who succeeds this position to Roselyne Bachelot, did she dream that day of being appointed to the government?

Rima Abdul-Malak, cultural advisor to the Élysée since December 2019, replacing Claudia Ferrazzi, worked in particular on setting up the Culture pass. With this theater enthusiast, “another style blows on the Elysée, more direct, more committed”, specifies Le Monde.

This Franco-Lebanese aged 44, graduated from the Institute of Political Studies in Lyon in 1999 and holder of a DESS from the Panthéon-Sorbonne University, turned to humanitarian work at the start of her career. She was secretary general of the association Clowns Sans Frontières (2001-2006), then cultural adviser to Bertrand Delanoë at the town hall of Paris, before becoming cultural attaché in New York, occupying the position of head of the department of artistic exchanges at the French Embassy in the United States.

Ambassador of France to Italy (2014-2017) then to the United Kingdom since 2019, permanent delegate of France to Unesco (2008-2010), Minister Delegate for European Affairs (2005-2007), spokesperson for the Presidency of the Republic under Jacques Chirac (1995-2004)… Relatively little known to the general public, Catherine Colonna, 66, nevertheless has a substantial CV. A great experience in the international field which led this enarque to the post of Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

This seasoned diplomat will in particular have to manage the abolition of the diplomatic corps, a decried reform which has led several unions at the Quai d’Orsay to launch an almost unprecedented strike call on June 2.

This is another major surprise announced by the secretary general of the Elysée Alexis Kohler. Historian Pap Ndiaye, 56, has been appointed Minister of National Education and Youth, replacing Jean-Michel Blanquer who remained at the head of the rue de Grenelle for five years.

This 55-year-old academic, specialist in the social history of the United States and minorities, was until now at the head of the French National Museum of the History of Immigration. The school is one of the three major projects of Emmanuel Macron’s new five-year term.