THE French Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Jospin, did what he said he would his government, announced last night, is small with 27 members (15 ministers, two minister delegates and 10 secretaries of state) - compared to 32 in the outgoing administration.
It is feminine five of the 15 ministers are female. And it is "plural" - all of the parties who helped the left win last Sunday are represented: Socialists, Communists, Greens, Radical Socialists and Mr Jean Pierre Chevenement's Citizens' Movement. Mr Chevenement, a former defence minister, received the post of Interior Minister.
Ms Martine Aubry will serve as Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister of Labour; she was ranked second in the government to emphasise the priority given to employment. The third ranking minister is the former minister delegate for Europe, Ms Elisabeth Guigou, who becomes Minister of Justice - the first time a woman has held this post.
Ms Catherine Trautmann, the feisty Mayor of Strasbourg, is Minister of Culture and government spokesperson, Ms Dominique Voynet, the Greens leader, is Minister of the Environment.
None of the notable figures of the Mitterrand era was included. There will be disappointment that Ms Aubry's father, former president of the European Commission Mr Jacques Delors, is not in the government. Most of the cabinet members are in their 40s or 50s, and were among Mr Jospin's "musketeers" who worked to renew the Socialist party after its collapse in the early 1990s.
The Prime Minister twice met President Jacques Chirac yesterday to put finishing touches to the list. Mr Chirac did not oppose any of Mr Jospin's choices. Two ministries - foreign affairs and defence - are considered particularly sensitive in a "cohabitation". Mr Hubert Vedrine, who for 14 years acted as secretary general of the Elysee Palace under President Mitterrand, is the new Foreign Minister. Considered an expert on "cohabitation", he steered the Elysee through the 1986-88 and 1993-95 periods. He handled the French hostage crisis in Lebanon.
Mr Vedrine will be assisted by Mr Pierre Moscovici, the Minister Delegate for European Affairs. Mr Moseovici served on Mr Jospin's staff when the latter was minister of education, and is one of his closest advisers. His appointment is a sign that Mr Jospin attaches great importance to the forthcoming Amsterdam summit and European Monetary Union.
Two other close associates of Mr Jospin received important ministries. His friend of 40 years, the scientist Mr Claude Allegre, is Minister of Education, Research and Technology. As Minister of the Economy, Mr Dominique StraussKahn will have responsibility for the budget and EMU.
The appointment of Mr Alain Richard as Defence Minister was unexpected. But Mr Richard, a little known Socialist senator and reserve military officer, has the confidence of the French armed forces at a time of heavy cuts in defence spending.
Mr Jean Claude Gayssot, a former train driver, is the Communist Minister of Transport. Another Communist, Ms Marie George Buffet, is Minister for Sports. A third Communist was named Secretary of State for Tourism.
