Sarkozy appoints new minister for economic recovery

Agence France Presse
Friday, December 5, 2008

PARIS (AFP) – President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday appointed a new
minister for economic recovery charged with overseeing a massive
stimulus plan to help France fight the global slowdown.

Patrick Devedjian, a close Sarkozy ally and the current head of the
governing right-wing UMP party, will implement the 26-billion-euro
(33-billion-dollar) plan unveiled on Thursday.

Sarkozy said the new minister would ensure all funds unlocked under the
plan, which includes massive state investment and aid for the car
industry, are used for that purpose, and not simply folded into existing
ministry budgets.

"This plan will be implemented in full and it will be implemented
quickly," the president said.

Devedjian will be attached to the office of Prime Minister Francois
Fillon, and not to the economy ministry.

He immediately announced his resignation as UMP chief. His successor
will be appointed in late January with Sarkozy’s long-time ally Brice
Hortefeux, the current immigration minister, seen as a strong contender.

A deputy in the National Assembly, Devedjian took over from Sarkozy last
year as head of the district council for the Hauts de Seine, west of
Paris — the president’s political fief.

The 64-year-old has been junior minister twice before, for local affairs
in 2002 and industry in 2005.

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