Macron names key ally interior minister in mini-reshuffle

French President Emmanuel Macron reshuffled his cabinet on Tuesday, appointing new interior, agriculture and culture ministers after a weeks-long search for new talent to try to revive his government’s flagging fortunes.

Two weeks after political veteran Gerard Collomb resigned unexpectedly as interior minister, Macron appointed the ultra-loyal head of his Republic on the Move party, Christophe Castaner, to replace him.

The centrist also fired his agriculture and culture ministers, seen as weak links in his cabinet, which is a complicated blend of experts and more experienced politicians, from the left and right.

Collomb’s departure on October 2 was a blow to Macron and coincided with a slump in the president’s popularity after a summer overshadowed by a scandal involving a close aide, verbal gaffes and disappointing economic data.

His resignation follows that of popular environment minister Nicolas Hulot in August, creating a sense of disarray in the reformist cabinet.

Macron’s delay in carrying out the reshuffle, caused in part by his difficulty in convincing big names to join his team, has added to the sense of a loss in momentum after a fast-paced first year in office, analysts say.

The pro-business 40-yearold leader will hope the reshaped executive team – which keeps the prime minister, foreign and economy ministers in place – will open a new chapter after a torrid few months.