RAMA YADE, a one-time protege of President Nicolas Sarkozy, has resigned as France’s ambassador to Unesco to join the campaign team of one of Mr Sarkozy’s political rivals.
Ms Yade (34), one of France’s most popular politicians, became the youngest government minister in the history of the current French republic when Mr Sarkozy appointed her in 2007.
Saying she took the decision to resign to reclaim her political “freedom”, she confirmed she would be supporting Jean-Louis Borloo, a centrist former minister, in his campaign for the presidency.
Ms Yade had only been in the post at Unesco, the United Nations’ Paris-based education and culture agency, since last November, when Mr Sarkozy offered her the role after sacking her as sports minister.
Born in Senegal, Ms Yade moved to France as a child and was employed as a civil servant in the senate when Mr Sarkozy appointed her to cabinet.
Their relationship quickly soured, however, as Ms Yade, emboldened by her strong public approval ratings, would regularly criticise government policy.
Her recent attacks on Mr Sarkozy’s debate on Islam, and her criticism of the delayed French response to the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, caused further tensions.
She was widely expected to be removed from the Unesco post during a diplomatic reshuffle later this year. “It brings me more trouble than anything else,” she said of her reputation as a rebel in an interview with The Irish Times earlier this year.
The defection of Ms Yade to Mr Borloo’s camp adds to concerns within Mr Sarkozy’s entourage that the centre-right vote could splinter in next year’s presidential election.
Mr Borloo, who leads the centrist Parti Radical and served as environment minister until last November, has said he plans to run against Mr Sarkozy.
“We are getting ready with Jean-Louis Borloo for the election campaign. I want to have the time to commit myself freely and totally by his side,” Ms Yade said.
Mr Borloo has little chance of winning, but the Élysée Palace fears he could chip into the centre-right vote and jeopardise the president’s chances of qualifying for the second-round run-off next year.