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.