Sarkozy appoints reform-minded PM

French president Nicolas Sarkozy appointed reform-minded conservative Francois Fillon as his new prime minister today.

Mr Fillon was to take over formally from outgoing Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin at 11am (10am Irish time).

Mr Fillon, 53, a member of Sarkozy’s Union for a Popular Movement, is credited with pushing through a tricky retirement reform as social affairs minister from 2002 to 2004.

He served as education minister from 2004 to 2005.