Sarkozy names man to deal with recession

French president Nicolas Sarkozy has added a new minister to his government, assigned to put into action a €26bn stimulus plan announced this week to ward off recession.

Patrick Devedjian, who has headed Mr Sarkozy’s conservative party, the UMP, was named to the post. When the president announced the plan, he specified a minister would be named to execute it.

A day later, Mr Sarkozy named his longtime ally Mr Devedjian. He’ll leave his post as party chief this month.