Leonetti named minister for European affairs

[copyright: Ziel]

Leonetti, 62, was awarded the position after Sarkozy was forced to replace Christine Lagarde as finance minister following her resignation that allowed her to succeed Dominique Strauss-Kahn as head of the IMF.

Budget minister François Baroin will now take over from Lagarde at Bercy.

Sarkozy has also used the reshuffle as an opportunity to create a new junior ministerial position for French citizens living abroad. Former Olympic judo champion David Douillet, will head the new role, which will be tied to plans to create 11 overseas constituencies in the assemblée nationale ahead of next year’s parliamentary election.

Currently eight per cent of French nationals living abroad reside in the UK, which will have its own ‘French MP’ from next year.

Tom Donnelly