PARIS (Reuters) -Roland Lescure, a close ally of French President Emmanuel Macron with a left-wing background, was appointed finance minister in a new government led by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, the Elysee palace said on Sunday.

Former finance minister Bruno Le Maire was appointed defence minister. Several key ministers remained in their post, including Jean-Noel Barrot at the foreign ministry, Bruno Retailleau at the interior ministry and Gerald Darmanin at the justice ministry.

(Reporting by Geert De Clercq; editing by Richard Lough)

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