PARIS, July 19 (Xinhua) -- General Francois Lecointre has been named the new chief of French armed forces, the government's spokesman Christophe Castaner announced Wednesday.
Lecointre, a member of Prime Minister Edouard Philippe's cabinet, replaced Pierre de Villiers who decided to quit office over a dispute on defense budget cut.
Lecointre will take "from tomorrow his responsibilities as chief of armed forces," Casataner said after a weekly cabinet meeting.