French President Hollande's ex-Partner Enters New Cabinet

Segolene Royal, former partner of France's President Francois Hollande, has entered the country's new government.

She has become Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and Energy in the cabinet of Manuel Valls, who replaced Jean-Marc Ayrault as Prime Minister earlier this week as a result of a reshuffle which followed the defeat of ruling Socialists at local elections on March 30.

Hollande was long at odds with Royal, who is mother to his four children and who was a presidential candidate back in 2007.

The two broke up in June the same year, after spending 25 years together, with Royal citing her partner's infidelity as a reason.

Pierre Moscovici will not serve any more as Finance Minister and his office will be shared between Michel Sapin (Finance) and Arnaud Montebourg (Industry and Economy).

The changes made in the ministry are intended to lead France out of its current economic stagnation and lack of employment.

Among those who kept their jobs were Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Hollande hopes that Manuel Valls, who is more popular with the French than Ayrault, could implement the so-called "Responsibility Pact" cutting high business taxes and introducing spending cuts, as well as the "Solidarity Pact" promoting education and healthcare expenditures, France 24 reports.

Austerity was an option Hollande categorically rejected during his 2012 election campaign and experts suggest this was part of what led him to defeating Nicolas Sarkozy and becoming President.