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New French government announced

Mr de Villepin confirmed that his rival Nicolas Sarkozy will serve as his deputy in the new centre-right line-up, and succeed him as interior minister.

The country’s new foreign minister is Philippe Douste-Blazy.

The French “No” to the EU treaty and its rejection by the Dutch this week has sent shockwaves across the bloc.

The BBC’s Caroline Wyatt in Paris says President Chirac and Mr de Villepin were determined to look decisive in these difficult times for France.

They have come up with the new cabinet sooner than anticipated.

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.”