Cabinet Reshuffle Took Place in France

French President Nicolas Sarkozy reappointed Francois Fillon Prime Minister on 14th November 2010. French President changed his foreign and defence ministers as part of cabinet reshuffle. Michelle Alliot-Marie was appointed foreign minister in place of Bernard Kouchner, while Alain Juppe replaced Herve Morin as defence minister.
French President made this cabinet reshuffle keeping in mind the next Presidential election scheduled to take place in 2012. In recent months, there were political tensions in France. There were public protests over Sarkozy’s Pension Reform Policy. The popularity of the French President had decreased considerably. His party also lost the regional elections in March 2010. Francois Fillon was a key aide to Nikolas Sarkozy and was the leading campaigner for him during Presidential Election in 2007. So it was expected that Fillion would be reappointed Prime Minister.