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Villepin named new French PM

Villepin, 51, moves from the interior ministry to replace Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who resigned after voters on Sunday roundly rejected Chirac’s call for the ratification of a European Union constitution.

Villepin arrived at the presidential Elysee Palace just minutes after Chirac bid farewell to Raffarin with a handshake on the palace steps.

A former foreign minister, Villepin gained a worldwide reputation for his impassioned defense of the French stance against a U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Villepin is a long-standing Chirac loyalist and was once his top adviser. However, analysts say he is an unpopular choice among lawmakers opposed to a prime minister who has never held elected office.

Chirac and Villepin did not immediately name a new cabinet.

Chirac accepts defeat on EU vote

 

With votes counted in all of France and its overseas territories, the “no” camp had 54.87 percent, with only 45.13 percent voting “yes,” according to figures released by France’s Interior Ministry.

Chirac on Sunday acknowledged his country’s decision. In a national address, he said French voters had made their “sovereign decision, and I note it.”

Chirac said that he intended to meet with the European Council in Brussels on June 16 and “defend the position of our country.” He added: “France will continue to maintain its full positions respecting its commitments, and I will assure that.”

French voters reject EU charter

Almost 55% of people voted “No, with 45% against, according to final interior ministry figures.

The vote could deal a fatal blow to the EU constitution, which needs to be ratified by all 25 members states.

President Jacques Chirac accepted the voters’ “sovereign decision”, but said it created “a difficult context for the defence ofour interests in Europe”.

The French leader had campaigned hard for a “Yes” vote.

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Dardennes bag Palme d'Or with 'Child' Jarmusch's 'Flowers' takes Grand Prix; Jones' 'Burials' nabs two

CANNES — Established auteurs, both young and
old, dominated the awards at the 58th Cannes Film Festival (May 11-22),
with Belgian brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne nabbing their second
Palme d’Or (after 1999’s “Rosetta”), for small-scale social-realist
drama “The Child,” and U.S. filmmakers getting a healthy chunk of the
main prizes.

n one of the few surprises in a generally
uncontroversial doling out of gongs, Tommy Lee Jones walked off with
best actor for his Peckinpah-like neo-Western, “The Three Burials of
Melquiades Estrada,” by Mexican writer Guillermo Arriaga, who won for
best script. Pic had been thought likely for some kind of nod, but not
for two awards.

Cannes Film Festival Opens

Indian actress Aishwarya Rai and US director Alexander Payne officially launched this year’s festival in a theatre packed with celebrities from around the world as well as film greats, with thousands of fans angling to get a glimpse outside.

“It’s an absolute pleasure and honour for me to declare the 58th Cannes film festival open,” said Ms Rai in English, after a spectacular gymnastics display by a member of Canadian troupe Cirque du Soleil.

Ms Rai, a Bollywood star who broke through into international cinema after starring in Bride and Prejudice, sat on the Cannes jury three years ago.

Mr Payne, known for directing the films About Schmidt and Sideways, repeated her declaration in French.