Sarkozy unveils broad-based cabinet

FRENCH President Nicolas Sarkozy unveiled a broad-based cabinet yesterday, naming popular leftist Bernard Kouchner as foreign minister in a slimline government that radically reshaped the finance ministry.

Maintaining an election promise, Sarkozy appointed seven women to his 15-strong team, breaking a male stranglehold on power and halving the number of cabinet posts.

Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon, who was appointed on Thursday, held their first cabinet meeting yesterday afternoon, sending a clear signal they immediately want to get to work on their reform programme.