De Villepin Named Interior Minister
French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, a critic of the war in Iraq, was named interior minister under a government shake-up. The changes followed the governing party’s defeat in regional elections.
De Villepin will be replaced by European Commissioner Michel Barnier, the presidential Elysee Palace announced. Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy becomes head of the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry. Replacing Barnier as European commissioner is Jacques Barrot, head of the governing party in the National Assembly.
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