French President Nicolas Sarkozy late Tuesday re-shuffled his government for the third time in a little more than two years, changing eight ministerial and junior ministerial posts, according to the dpa. As announced by the head of Sarkozy's office at the Elysee Palace, Claude Gueant, Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie replaces Rachida Dati as Justice Minister and sees her status elevated to that of minister of state. The daughter of Moroccan immigrants, Dati was a symbol of Sarkozy's social openness to women and minorities. Sarkozy obliged her to stand in this month's EU elections as a means of gently removing her from the government, and she was easily elected. Sarkozy's close political ally Brice Hortefeux replaces Alliot-Marie as Interior Minister. Education Minister Xavier Darcos replaces Hortefeux at the Labour Ministry. Government spokesman Luc Chatel was named to replace Darcos as Education Minister. As he himself announced earlier Tuesday, Frederic Mitterand, a nephew of former Socialist president Francois Mitterand, is the new Culture Minister, replacing Christine Albanel. Junior Minister for European Affairs Bruno Le Maire was named Agriculture Minister, replacing Michel Barnier, who was also elected to the EU parliament.
