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Hollande picks junior minister of urban affairs to manage unemployment portfolio: Elysee

Xinhua, September 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday named Myriam Al-Khomri as labor minister to replace Francois Rebsamen, the Elysee announced.

With the suggestion of Prime Minister Manuel Valls, Hollande picked Al-Khomri, junior minister for urban affairs to manage the sensitive unemployment portfolio.

"I realize the responsibility. Count on my fighting spirit and determination in the service of the French, " tweeted the 37-year-old Al-Khomri.

Her predecessor, Rebsaman, decided last month to quit office after being elected mayor of the eastern French city of Dijon.

With more than three million jobless claims, the French government is in a torrid battle to start lowering unemployment, currently hovering at 10 percent. It expects to bring down the joblessness rate by the end of this year, betting on the recovering economy to expand one percent. Endit