François Hollande, France's new socialist president, has revealed a government which for the first time features an equal number of women and men, and includes figures who reflect the country's ethnic diversity.

Appointing Najat Vallaud-Belkacem as minister for women's right, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem was born in Morocco in October 4th, 1977) she's a French politician of the Socialist General Council. She was advisor to Ségolène Royal's campaign during the 2007 French General Election. Since 2008 she has been sixth deputy Mayor of Lyon, responsible for major events, youth and community life.

Biography

Second in a family of seven children, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem was born in the Moroccan countryside in 1977 in Beni Chike, a village near Nador. In 1982 she rejoined her father, a French building worker, with her mother and elder sister Fatiha, and grew up in the suburbs of Amiens. She graduated from the Institut d'études politiques de Paris ("Paris Institute of Political Studies") in 2002. At the Institut she met Boris Vallaud, whom she married on 27 August 2005.

She joined the Socialist Party in 2002 and joined the team of Gérard Collomb, Senator/Mayor of Lyon, in 2003 leading actions to strengthen local democracy, the fight against discrimination, promotion of citizen rights, and access to employment and housing.

Elected to the Regional Council of Rhone-Alpes in 2004, she presides over the Culture Commission. In 2005, she became adviser to the Socialist Party. In 2005 and 2006 she was a columnist for the cultural programme C'est tout vu on Télé Lyon Municipale alongside Stéphane Cayrol.

In February 2007 she joined Ségolène Royal's campaign team as a spokesperson, alongside Vincent Peillon and Arnaud Montebourg.

In March 2008 she was elected Conseillère Générale for Rhône in the cantonal elections with 58.52% of the votes in the second round.

On May 16th, 2012, she was appointed to French President François Hollande's cabinet as Minister of Women's Rights and spokesman for the government.