Remember Sparky?
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.Villepin 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.
The euro which was already falling, dropped even further on the announcement of Villepin’s appointment. Economists said Villepin was too close to Chirac and unlikely to re-introduce economic reforms.
I know Raffarin was not popular with many people in France, but exactly how was the vote on the EU charter a direct reflection of their distaste for his economic policies? And why on earth would anyone think that de Villepin will do any better? Heck, I don’t think Sparky has any domestic experience at all, except being in the doghouse most of the time. Let’s all sit back and relax, because it’s just a matter of time before he burns Paris (and all of the people of France) as well.
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