DOMESTIC BRIEFING PAPER: SARKOZY RESHUFFLES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 000970 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV FR SUBJECT: DOMESTIC BRIEFING PAPER: SARKOZY RESHUFFLES CABINET WITH EYE TOWARD FUTURE ELECTIONS PARIS 00000970 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) President Sarkozy appointed an eclectic combination of close UMP allies and new centrist recruits to the Fillon government June 23 in an apparent effort to boost his appeal among a broad range of voters before regional elections next year and a presumed reelection bid in 2012. At least two changes to the government lineup were required given the election of former ministers Michel Barnier and Rachida Dati to the European Parliament earlier in the month. But the June 23 government reshuffle went further than most observers expected, even though Prime Minister Francois Fillon and the incumbents at other strategic ministries*defense, foreign affairs, environment and economy*stayed on in their positions. In the days following the reshuffle, President Sarkozy also hinted publicly he might appoint more allies to the Fillon government before the end of the summer. ¶2. (SBU) After taking considerable heat from some in the UMP for appointing &too many8 center-left personalities to cabinet slots, President Sarkozy shored up his right flank in this reshuffling by promoting several sitting UMP ministers to higher positions and by nominating fresh faces from within the party. Michele Alliot-Marie, a member of the UMP,s Gaullist wing, replaced Dati at the important Justice Ministry. She was also promoted to the prestigious Minister of State rank, placing her third in the government,s protocol order. Brice Hortefeux, the president,s oldest political ally, took over from Alliot-Marie at Interior and Xavier Darcos, another Sarkozy UMP stalwart, replaced Hortefeux at Labor. ¶3. (SBU) Luc Chatel, a fortyish UMP rising star was promoted from the State Secretary for Industry slot to the politically sensitive Minister of Education position. Chatel also retained his high-profile Government Spokesman designation. Bruno Le Maire, formerly State Secretary for European Affairs, was named Minister of Agriculture, and Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi, another long-time Sarkozy ally, entered the government as Chatel,s replacement. Also new to the government lineup: Pierre Lellouche, the well-known Atlanticist deputy and former SR for Afghanistan and Pakistan, was named to lead the European Affairs portfolio; freshman UMP deputy Benoist Apparu became State Secretary for Housing; and presidential assistant Marie-Luce Penchard, the daughter of a powerful UMP senator from Guadeloupe, took up duties as State Secretary for Overseas Affairs. ¶4. (SBU) After crediting the UMP,s larger-than-expected margin of victory in the European Elections to his controversial &overture8 policy, Sarkozy also continued his outreach to certain strategic personalities on the center-left. Senator Michel Mercier, one of centrist Francois Bayrou,s top lieutenants, was named to the newly created Minister of Rural Development post. Bayrou,s MoDem party was smothered in the European Parliament elections, placing a distant fourth behind the UMP, PS and Greens. Mercier,s appointment to the Fillon government was characterized by the press as an effort by President Sarkozy to further destabilize the shell-shocked Bayrou, a likely presidential contender in 2012. ¶5. (SBU) In perhaps the reshuffle,s most surprising nomination, Frederic Mitterrand, a nephew of the former president, was named Minister of Culture and Communication. Although press reports later revealed Mitterrand had voted for Jacques Chirac in 1995 and was a close friend to First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Mitterrand,s appointment was initially characterized as an effort by Sarkozy to co-opt an iconic family name from the Socialists. In another example of his commitment to the overture policy, President Sarkozy also named Jean-Marie Bockel, leader of the Modern Left party and the former State Secretary for Veterans Affairs, to the newly created State Secretary for Justice Affairs position. While Bockel,s exact portfolio has yet to be defined, he is reportedly expected to lead a reform of the French prison system, one of President Sarkozy,s top priorities for the coming year. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: President Sarkozy continued his outreach to members of the center-left as part of this reshuffle, but also reserved the lion,s share of new appointments for members of his own party. With his UMP allies now appeased, President Sarkozy may feel more at liberty to build a broad coalition with other parties*namely Bockel,s Modern Left and Defense Minister Herve Morin,s New Center*in an effort to win the March 2010 regional elections. Looking further down the road, and given the overall gloomy economic outlook for the foreseeable future, President Sarkozy likely sees his controversial &overture8 policy as an essential element to winning reelection in 2012. PARIS 00000970 002.2 OF 002 PEKALA