Sarkozy appoints new cabinet in marathon weekend reshuffle

NICOLAS SARKOZY appointed a new government in a marathon weekend reshuffle with faithful allies taking top posts clearly aimed at pleasing his conservative ranks before France’s 2012 presidential election.

Once-disgraced former prime minister Alain Juppe, the mayor of Bordeaux, was put in charge of the Defence Ministry and given the number two spot behind prime minister Francois Fillon, who retained his job after submitting his resignation on Saturday night.

Yesterday’s appointment positions Juppe, a long-time standard bearer of the conservatives, for a political renaissance.