French government resigns ahead of cabinet reshuffle

French government resigns ahead of cabinet reshuffle

2010-11-14 03:02:28 GMT+7 (ICT)

PARIS (BNO NEWS) -- French Prime Minister François Fillon on Saturday offered the government's resignation ahead of a long-awaited ministerial reshuffle.

The office of President Nicolas Sarkozy announced the resignation in a brief, two-line statement. "Pursuant to Article 8 of the Constitution, Mr. François Fillon presented to the President the resignation of the government," the statement said. "The President accepted the resignation and has terminated the functions of Mr. François Fillon."

The resignation did not come as a complete surprise and clears the way for Sarkozy to reshuffle his cabinet. Fillon, who served as the country's Prime Minister since May 2007, is expected to resume his role as prime minister in a third government.

Sources have told the Le Monde newspaper that Fillon could be reinstated as prime minister as early as Sunday morning. But few details about the rest of the government are available, although former Prime Minister Alain Juppé is expected to take a role in the new cabinet.

In June, Sarkozy announced that he was planning to change the cabinet once a reform of the pension system had been adopted. This reform became law on Wednesday and raised the retirement age from 60 to 62.

Sarkozy is not doing well in the ratings, despite a narrow victory over Ségolène Royal during the presidential elections in 2007. With the reshuffle, it is widely expected that Sarkozy will try to create a solid base for the presidential elections in 2012.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-11-14