Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, an outspoken proponent of gender equality, was promoted during French cabinet shakeup.

Vallaud-Belkacem, who was minister for women’s rights, youth and sport before becoming the first woman to take charge of the education portfolio, became a hate figure for the right when she backed an experimental reform introduced into 275 primary schools last year aimed at overcoming gender stereotyping. The minister was dubbed “Khmer Rose” by the rightwing Le Figaro, and was accused of importing the controversial gender theory from the US.