法国总理马克・埃罗组建新政府

France's new Socialist Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has named his government, a day after Francois Hollande was inaugurated as president.

弗朗索瓦·奥朗宣誓就职法国总统一天过后，新社会党总理让-马克·埃罗组建了新政府。

Mr Ayrault (right) shook hands with Mr Fillon outside the Matignon Palace
Hollande campaign chief Pierre Moscovici has been given the role of finance minister and former PM Laurent Fabius has been made foreign minister.

But, in a major development, party leader Martine Aubry turned down a post heading a "super ministry".

Sources said she saw "no point" in joining the cabinet if she was not PM.

Women's promise

Mr Ayrault, an old Hollande ally, said farewell to his predecessor, Francois Fillon, at the Matignon Palace on Wednesday morning but the make-up of his cabinet only became clear by evening.

News channel BFMTV reported that he had spent four hours during the afternoon discussing his team with President Hollande.

Although President Hollande had vowed women would make up half of the new cabinet, it soon became evident that few women had been given the top jobs. However, French media said that of the 34 ministerial posts, 17 had been given to women, including justice, culture, ecology and sport.

Christiane Taubira, an MP from French Guiana becomes justice minister. She is said to have turned down a post offered by President Sarkozy five years ago. Nicole Bricq is made ecology minister.

Marisol Touraine, 53, will head the social affairs ministry, having dealt with the brief during the election campaign. Aurelie Filippetti is made culture minister and Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, 34, is given the women's rights portfolio. Genevieve Fioraso will be in charge of higher education.