New French cabinet greeted with caution

Mon, 15 Nov 2010

Paris - French President Nicolas Sarkozy's newly reshuffled cabinet on Monday received a mixed welcome from politicians and the media.

While Economy Minister Christine Lagarde, who kept her job in the reshuffle, described it on French radio as "totally revolutionary," most opposition politicians, including the Socialist leader Martine Aubry dismissed the move as "much do about nothing."

The reappointed prime minister, Francois Fillon, was seen by the media as the clearest winner in the reshuffle, with several newspapers dubbing him "Super-Fillon."

The new line-up, announced on Sunday, allowed Sarkozy to rid his embattled cabinet of some ministers whose presence had become problematic and recall some old hands.

Former justice minister Michele Alliot-Marie replaced Bernard Kouchner as foreign minister while former prime minister Alain Juppe returned to the cabinet to become defense minister.

Sarkozy had announced the shake-up in March but repeatedly postponed it. The move has largely been seen as preparation for a second presidential run in 2012, as the cabinet is now mainly staffed by old hands and loyal supporters of Sarkozy.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/353567,french-cabinet-greeted-caution.html.