FRANCE: Sarkozy hails ‘unity’ of new government team

A crowd of journalists and photographers gathered on Wednesday morning in the gardens of the Elysee presidential palace. Indoors, the new government cabinet led by Francois Fillon, the third cabinet under the French prime minister, met for its first official meeting and later posed for the traditional family portrait.

Eric Besson, junior minister of Industry, Energy and Digital Economy, said French President Nicolas Sarkozy had asked the new members of the government to pay close attention to what they said. At the meeting, Sarkozy reportedly told the ministers to form a very united team, “like a rugby squad”.

After their meeting and photo-op, the ministers appeared at the National Assembly in the afternoon for a traditional question and answer session.

A new look, a new strategy

Ahead of the meeting, President Sarkozy appeared on Tuesday on national television to defend the cabinet reshuffle and provide his new ministers with a governing playbook.