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| Sarkozy names new prime minister | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The new French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has announced that his first prime minister will be Francois Fillon. | |
| Mr Sarkozy, who succeeded Jacques Chirac on Wednesday, made the announcement after meeting Mr Fillon on Thursday morning. | |
| Mr Fillon, 53, an adviser to Mr Sarkozy and a moderate conservative senator in his UMP party, was expected to be signed in at a ceremony within hours. | Mr Fillon, 53, an adviser to Mr Sarkozy and a moderate conservative senator in his UMP party, was expected to be signed in at a ceremony within hours. |
| The president is due to name the rest of his government on Friday. | The president is due to name the rest of his government on Friday. |
| Mr Fillon served as social affairs minister between 2002 to 2004, pushing through a major overhaul of the country's pension system in the midst of large street protests. | Mr Fillon served as social affairs minister between 2002 to 2004, pushing through a major overhaul of the country's pension system in the midst of large street protests. |
| The outgoing prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, who resigned from the post on Tuesday, will receive his successor and formally hand over power in a ceremony later on Thursday morning. | The outgoing prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, who resigned from the post on Tuesday, will receive his successor and formally hand over power in a ceremony later on Thursday morning. |
| Profile: Francois Fillon | Profile: Francois Fillon |
| In line with tradition, the Republican Guard will be deployed and a red carpet laid out across the courtyard at the prime minister's official residence, the Matignon. | In line with tradition, the Republican Guard will be deployed and a red carpet laid out across the courtyard at the prime minister's official residence, the Matignon. |
| The new president said on his first day in office that France needed to bring in more reforms quickly. | The new president said on his first day in office that France needed to bring in more reforms quickly. |
| Mr Fillon's renowned conciliatory skills will be much needed as prime minister if he is to succeed in a post often described as a poisoned chalice, says the BBC's Alasdair Sandford in Paris. | Mr Fillon's renowned conciliatory skills will be much needed as prime minister if he is to succeed in a post often described as a poisoned chalice, says the BBC's Alasdair Sandford in Paris. |