Sarkozy Reappoints Prime Minister

Francois Fillion

French President Nicholas Sarkozy reappointed his Prime Minister, Francois Fillion, on Sunday, November 14, the day after Fillion had announced his resignation from the post. Fillion had resigned as  way for the cabinet to be reshuffled, as every cabinet minister is required to resign upon the prime minister's dismissal. After Fillion's reappointment, it was stated by Sarkozy's chief of staff, Claude Gueant, that new ministers would be brought into the government. Though Fillion was in talks with these new choices and is required to formally appoint them, in actuality, they were chosen by Sarkozy. Alain Juppe, a former Prime Minister, was named Defense Minister and Michelle Alliot-Marie, who will become Foreign Minister, are among these new choices

The reason behind Sillion's reappointment was to create a cabinet more in line with Sarkozy's center-right political party, Union for a Popular Movement. Sarkozy currently has low approval ratings with the public. Of the French public, only between a quarter and a third of citizens have a favorable opinion of Sarkozy's policies. The next presidential elections are in 2010 and Sarkozy is widely expected to run for reelection. Sarkozy's sinking popularity already took a serious blow after the signing into law a bill that would raise France's retirement age from 60 to 62. The passage of the bill prompted angry citizen's and worker's unions to organize strikes which almost brought the nation to a standstill.

 By replacing cabinet minsters with those with more party loyalty, Sarkozy is trying to unite his party base to stand a better chance of reelection in two years. The reappointment of Fillion is both politically motivated and politically savvy, as Fillion is more popular within the political party and with the general public. 

Sources include:

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-11-14/world/france.pm.reappointed_1_francois-fillon-reshuffle-cabinet-shakeup?_s=PM:WORLD


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/15/world/europe/15france.html?_r=1&src=twrhp


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703649104575613983333295548.html?mod=googlenews_wsj