Juppe defense minister in new French cabinet

Sun, 14 Nov 2010

Paris- Veteran politician Alain Juppe was named defense minister in a new cabinet unveiled by French Premier Francois Fillon on Sunday.

Juppe, a former prime minister, foreign minister and now mayor of Bordeaux, replaces Herve Morin in a reshuffle which saw Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner lose his post to Michele Alliot-Marie.

The elevation of Juppe makes him the number two man in a cabinet that is smaller than the previous one led by Fillon.

The premier stepped down along with his government on Saturday evening, paving the way for President Nicolas Sarkozy to conduct a long-awaited government shake-up.

Sarkozy reappointed Fillon on Sunday and asked him to form a new government. The prime minister spoke of a new era and emphasized his "commitment at Nicolas Sarkozy's side."

Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo, long considered a potential successor to to Fillon, failed to make the cut.

Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux, Economy Minister Christine Lagarde and Budget Affairs Minister Francois Baroin all kept their posts.

The new cabinet has around 10 ministers and state secretaries fewer than the previous 36-member cabinet.

The opposition is skeptical of the reshuffle, claiming it will change little.

"After a soap opera that has dragged on for six months, the president has organized another new show for our television screens this evening," Socialist parliamentarian Jean-Marc Ayrault said.

The overhaul, the fourth of Sarkozy's presidency, had been hinted at in the spring after the government's poor showing in regional elections.

The president has seen his popularity decline further over the introduction this month of a pension reform that increases the retirement age by two years.

Analysts say Sarkozy is hoping to use the reshuffle to polish his image prior to an expected bid for a second term in presidential elections due in 2012.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/353523,minister-new-french-cabinet.html.