FRENCH PRESIDENT Nicolas Sarkozy’s policy of ouverture to the left and centre reached a new level last night when he appointed Frédéric Mitterrand, the nephew of the late socialist president Francois, as minister of culture in a cabinet reshuffle.
Mr Sarkozy used the temptation of a cabinet portfolio to lure into his camp a close friend of Francois Bayrou, the centrist leader who recently attacked the president in a book entitled Abuse of Power.
Mr Mitterrand (61) is the most flamboyant of the eight new ministers who replaced cabinet members who had fallen out of favour with Mr Sarkozy. A friend of the first lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Mr Mitterrand became famous as the presenter of a television programme entitled Destinies, about the lives of the rich and famous.
A talented film-maker and writer, Mr Mitterrand is open about his homosexuality, even writing about his “paid loves” with young men. A year ago, with the support of the first lady, he won a bitter contest to become the director of the Villa Medicis, an extension of the French Academy in Rome.
The reshuffle was supposed to have been announced today, but Mr Mitterrand forced the Élysée to bring it forward by holding a farewell party for himself in Rome and telling journalists that it would be “exalting” to become the minister for culture. He said he thinks “constantly” of his late uncle, and the appointment of someone bearing the Mitterrand name is symbolic, though the new culture minister supported right-wing candidates in the last two presidential elections.
Michel Mercier, a little-known senator from Francois Bayrou’s MoDem party, was appointed as minister for territorial administration.
Michèle Alliot-Marie, the outgoing interior minister, delayed the announcement of the new government for several hours while she held out for the ministry of justice, which she obtained. The previous justice minister, Rachida Dati, has been sent to the European Parliament, the equivalent of Siberia in French politics. “Mam”, as Alliot-Marie is known, trained as a lawyer. Under the former president Jacques Chirac, she served as defence minister and head of the Gaullist party. Her relations with Mr Sarkozy are tense, but her network on the French right gives her a degree of power.
Brice Hortefeux, one of Mr Sarkozy’s closest friends and advisers, has moved from the ministry of labour to the interior ministry, where he was previously a junior minister. The president rewarded another ally, mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi, a former motorcycle racer whom detractors call “the moto-didact”, with the industry portfolio.
Several members of the “group of seven” – the seven most trusted cabinet members, who attend a weekly private meeting with Mr Sarkozy – were also promoted. One of them, Luc Chatel (45), retains his position as government spokesman and is elevated to minister of education.
Bruno Le Maire was transferred to the ministry of agriculture, just a few months after he was appointed to European affairs with the goal of improving relations with Germany. Mr Le Maire speaks fluent German and was highly appreciated in Berlin. His successor at European affairs, Pierre Lellouche, had recently been named Mr Sarkozy’s special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mr Lellouche is best known for his great love of the US.
Rama Yade, the attractive African woman who enraged Mr Sarkozy by criticising his policies as junior minister for human rights, was appointed secretary of state for sports. Because she is one of the most popular ministers, she could not be sacked. Bernard Kouchner, Christine Lagarde and Hervé Morin remain ministers of foreign affairs, economy and defence, respectively.