(5 Jun 1997) French/Nat
French president Jacques Chirac has held his first meeting with the Cabinet of Socialist Premier Lionel Jospin, Thursday in Paris, after the left's election victory last weekend.
Jospin's appointment of leftist moderates in key posts - including two Communists and a member of the Green party in the line-up - has eased stock market fears since the second round vote.
The new socialist prime minister has pledged to put aside political differences with conservative president Jacques Chirac to work together to deliver their electoral programme.
Neogaullist president Jacques Chirac said the "cohabitation" with the left will be based on "dignity, mutual respect and constant concern for the interest of France".
The new ministerial line-up of France's socialist premier arrived at the Elysee Palace in Paris for their first cabinet meeting with President Jacques Chirac after the left-wing's victory at the weekend.
The hordes of photographers and cameramen - keen to obtain their first pictures of the key players - provided a noisy welcome for the new French Premier, Lionel Jospin.
Jospin and several other leading cabinet colleagues were forced to slow down as they made their way to the entrance - if only to contain the rowdy press pack.
The new ministerial line-up was first approved by the conservative President Jacques Chirac.
Today after a cordial first meeting with neo-gaullist Chirac, Jospin's ministers were in no doubt as to the tasks that lie ahead.
SOUNDBITE: (French)
Translation: "There's a great sense of responsibility and a clear definition of everyone's duties and this was confirmed at today's meeting".
SUPER CAPTION: Louis Le Pensec - Agriculture Minister
After a thorough briefing by their bosses, France's new ministers were eager to press on with government business.
SOUNDBITE: (French)
Translation: "Well the impression is that overall things are looking very hopeful and our duties and how we are going to carry them out were defined very precisely and in a very interesting way by the prime minister and we will have plenty of time to read through our agenda".
SUPER CAPTION: Marylise Lebranchu - Minister for small businesses and commerce
Ministers were also confident they could deliver the sweeping changes heralded by the left following their successful election campaign.
SOUNDBITE: (French)
Translation: "France has great expectations of this government and we will do our best to fulfil them".
SUPER CAPTION: Christian Sautter - Secretary of State for Budgetary Affairs at the Economy Ministry
The Socialist Party and its leftist allies - the Communist and the Greens - dealt Chirac's centre-right coalition a crushing defeat on promises to fight record 12-point-8 per cent unemployment.
Jospin criticised the budget-cutting reforms of his predecessor, conservative Premier Juppe, which were aimed at allowing France to join the euro - the European single currency planned for 1999.
The new French cabinet is intent on putting aside political differences with the President in an attempt to deliver its electoral promises.
SOUNDBITE: (French)
Translation: "The prime minister and his government has pledged to work alongside and respecting the other constitutional prerogatives of the President of the French Republic with the serenity and rigour which befit the conduct of affairs of state, and which fall outside any differences in political ideologies"
SUPER CAPTION: Catherine Trautmann - Minister for Culture and government spokesman
The fight against unemployment is top of its agenda.
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