Lebanese-French Rima Abdul Malak appointed as France's new culture minister

A woman of Lebanese descent has been appointed a minister in France’s new cabinet.

Rima Abdul Malak will head the culture portfolio in Elisabeth Borne’s new government, weeks after Emmanuel Macron won the presidential election.

"The ministry that gives meaning to life! Thanks to the president and prime minister for their trust. To all those who bring our heritage, our creation, our cultural industries to life: count on my commitment!" wrote the new minister on Twitter.

Le ministère qui donne du sens et du goût à la vie ! Merci au Président de la République et à la Première ministre pour leur confiance. À toutes celles et à tous ceux qui font vivre notre patrimoine, notre création, nos industries culturelles : comptez sur mon engagement !

— Rima Abdul Malak (@RimaAbdulMalak) May 20, 2022

Abdul Malak’s parents fled to France from Lebanon during the brutal 1975-1990 civil war to settle in Lyon when she was ten.

She graduated from the Institute of Political Studies in Lyon, and then studied international cooperation at Sorbonne.

She has served as an advisor on culture and communications to Macron since 2019 and was also the cultural advisor to former Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe, among other positions she’s held.