1st LD: French President Unveils Cabinet

1st LD: French president unveils cabinet

PARIS, May 18 (Xinhua) — French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday unveiled a 15-member-strong cabinet, with seven women appointed to key posts and the socialist Bernard Kouchner as new foreign minister.

The president also appointed former Prime Minister Alain Juppe in charge of the environment, which Sarkozy says is a priority, and named former Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie interior minister. Outgoing employment minister Jean-Louis Borloo takes up a new assignment heading the ministry for the economy and labor.

As he had promised during the presidential elections, Sarkozy reduced the number of ministers to 15, half of the previous government by comparison.

Longtime friend of Sarkozy, Brice Hortefeux, was named to lead a new Ministry of Immigration, Integration and National Identity. Sarkozy’s campaign adviser Rachida Dati will head the justice ministry.

Presidential chief of staff Claude Gueant announced the posts outside the presidential palace.

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