Macron Appoints Senegalese-born Sibeth Ndiaye as Spokesperson in Minor Government Reshuffle
A record number of government ministers, 10, have exited Macron’s administration in the first 2 years of his office.
French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Sibeth Ndiaye, his Senegalese-born media advisor, as government spokeswoman in a minor reshuffle ahead of the 2019 EU elections on May 23-26, 2019.
Sibeth Ndiaye, the 39-year-old born Senegal’s capital Dakar, was granted French citizenship only in 2016 when she was working as media advisor for Macron’s presidential campaign.
Ndiaye replaced Benjamin Griveaux who resigned last week, and is believed to be preparing to run for Mayor of Paris in 2020, AFP and France24 reported.
“France has given me a lot. Today, it’s my turn to give something back,” Ndiaye said at a handover ceremony in Paris on Monday.
Ndiaye moved to Paris to study at university and became a leftwing student activist before joining the Socialist Party in 2002. Her mother was President of Senegal’s Constitutional Council and her father is also a politician.
“Her nomination is a strong endorsement of diversity in a high-profile job, a promotion and a sign of the president’s trust,” Philippe Grangeon, one of Macron’s top advisers, told French daily Le Monde.
“It’s a challenge for this engaging young woman, whose path has been quite different from that of a typical government minister,” he added.
Another new face in Macron’s administration is 36-year-old Cedric O, whose father is from South Korea.
The former treasurer for Macron’s campaign replaced France’s Digital Affairs Minister Mounir Mahjoubi, also expected to run for Paris Mayor.
The third new appointment in Macron’s mini-reshuffle is 33-year-old Amelie de Montchalin, 33, lawmaker from his Republic on the Move party, who is France’s new Minister for European Affairs.
De Montchalin has replaced European Affairs Minister Nathalie Loiseau who is heading the Republic on the Move’s list for the European Parliament vote on May 23-26.
The resignations of Benjamin Griveaux and Mounir Mahjoubi as spokesperson and minister, respectively, have brought to 10 the number of ministers who have quit Macron’s administration since he was elected to the French Presidency back in 2017, a record number for a French President’s first two years in office.
(Banner image: Elysee Palace on Twitter)
