May 31, 2005
The end of the end
Chirac names loyalist Villepin as PM
French President Jacques Chirac named loyalist Dominique de Villepin as his new prime minister on Tuesday in a shake-up of the government following his crushing defeat over the European Union constitution.Posted by Carine at May 31, 2005 12:07 PMVillepin replaces the unpopular Jean-Pierre Raffarin who quit earlier on Tuesday. He is a former interior and foreign minister who angered the United States but won French hearts with his fierce opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
He now has the task of reshaping government policy after voters showed their distaste for Raffarin's economic policies and high unemployment in Sunday's vote on the EU charter.
Chirac and Villepin, 51, did not immediately unveil the new government, which is expected to be announced on Wednesday. Some political commentators predict a slimmed-down cabinet.
Carine,
Apparently Jack Chirac is learning from Jack Welch (former G.E. grand master) who said
"You can change people, or you can change people". (emphasis on the first 'change', and the second 'people')
By the way, terrific post on 29 May!
Posted by: southpaw at May 31, 2005 06:19 PMI see the darling M. Chirac has picked de Villepin, whose most famous quote in the US was silence, over Sarkozy. The silence rather stood out, because it followed the question, "Do you want the Americans to lose in Iraq?"
Not to be reading too much into the tea leaves, but I'd bet M. Chirac will try what the SPD just tried in NRW: another rousing dose of anti-US rhetoric.
It failed the SPD in NRW. Let's see if Chirac can work it a little more effectively.
Posted by: scum of the univ at June 1, 2005 12:01 AMPouah is right...
Carine, forgive me but I have tagged you with a crappy meme. I emailed it to the E-Nough address but just wanted you to know.
Posted by: Cassandra at June 2, 2005 10:55 PM
