Bruno Le Maire was heard referring to his junior minister by her first name, which sparked debate

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The equal rights campaigner said women in politics were often “presumed incompetent” and judged on the basis of their appearance by their male peers.

Mrs Schiappa was asked by France Info radio to comment on a video clip in which conservative economy minister Bruno Le Maire can be heard referring to his junior minister Delphine Gény-Stéphann only as “Delphine” during a transfer of power ceremony which aired on state TV.

Mrs Gény-Stéphann, 49, a former high-ranking finance ministry official and entrepreneur, replaced Benjamin Griveaux as secretary of state for economic affairs on Saturday after he took on the role of government spokesman.

Mr Griveaux, a close ally of Mr Macron, for his part, stepped in the shoes of Christophe Castaner, the newly elected chief executive of president Emmanuel Macron’s Republic on the Move (REM) party.