Paris: For the first time in modern-day France, the country now has a Cabinet where women hold half the posts.
Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault named two new female ministers on Thursday in a minor government adjustment, bringing the total number of women in the 38-member Cabinet to 19.
Newly-elected Socialist President Francois Hollande approved the line-up in keeping with long-standing custom.
The Cabinet now honours a campaign pledge by Hollande for parity among men and women in the government.
Besides Ayrault, the other key ministries, including finance, foreign affairs and defence, remained unchanged from the interim government that was named between the Presidential Election in May and last week's Legislative Election, which Holland's party swept.
Christine Taubira, the justice minister, is the top ranking woman in the Cabinet.
PTI
First Published: Friday, June 22, 2012, 10:27