President Sarkozy presents new cabinet to nation

[News_Editor]

President Sarkozy presents new cabinet to nation

2010-11-17 06:23:21 GMT+7 (ICT)

PARIS (BNO NEWS) -- France's President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday presented his new cabinet after the weekend reshuffle in a national broadcast.

Sarkozy carried out a major cabinet reshuffle after accusations of corruption, political skulduggery and other offenses undermined the government. The new cabinet, which has been dubbed as "a campaign team," is composed of more loyal elements to Sarkozy's right wing government.

Despite speculation, the French leader confirmed the continuity of Francois Fillon as Prime Minister. Many believed that former Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo would be appointed to the post but Sarkozy chose to reappoint Fillon as he stands by the government’s program.

"When I asked Francois Fillon to continue, it's because I have great trust in him, because he's very competent, because we've worked together for years without a cloud," the French president said. "A certain amount of stability helps to soothe a country that is in need."

After the announcement, Borloo, a member of a small centrist party, presented his resignation to his post. Members of Sarkozy's own UMP party made their opposition to Borloo clear. After that, Sarkozy decided to strengthen the power of UMP in the cabinet, ahead of the 2012 presidential election.

Sarkozy removed several center-right and left-wing ministers in order to conform a more conservative government that is more likely to support Sarkozy's deficit-cutting agenda. Critics have labeled the new cabinet as a campaign team but Sarkozy said he would announce his decision to run or step aside in the presidency race in 2011.

Other changes made to the cabinet featured popular Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, a former Socialist minister, who was replaced by Gaullist Justice Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie. In addition, right-wing former prime minister Alain Juppé returned to take over the Defense Ministry.

Labor Minister Eric Woerth, a loyal supporter of Sarkozy, was removed due to his implication with a long-running party funding scandal. He was replaced with the outgoing leader of the UMP party, Xavier Bertrand.

Sarkozy has just returned from Seoul, where he was appointed as head of the G-20 group. The French president repeated his call for a global financial reform. He remarked that the world powers needs a new international monetary system.

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