Christian Estrosi, president of the Alpes-Maritimes General Council, was appointed as State Secretary for Overseas Territories under the Minister of the Interior by Prime Minister François Fillon on Tuesday at noon. He will work alongside Michèle Alliot-Marie. A close ally of Nicolas Sarkozy and leader of the UMP in the department, the deputy of the 5th district of Alpes-Maritimes has been rewarded for his clean sweep in area 06. Originally interested in the presidency of the UMP group in the Assembly, Christian Estrosi will easily find comfort in this ministerial portfolio. Unless there is a surprise, he will remain President of the General Council. Charles-Ange Ginésy, his substitute, becomes a deputy. Political opponents did not miss criticizing the accumulation of mandates when he was Deputy Minister for Regional Planning and President of the department. They will continue to do so, and likely with more vigor given the distant travels Christian Estrosi will have to undertake outside continental France. The head of the General Council of Alpes-Maritimes will no longer be able to rely on his hardworking chief of staff, Eric Ciotti, new deputy who cannot hold both roles. A departure that might seem trivial from afar but less anecdotal in the corridors of the General Council. Finally, the question burning on everyone’s lips following the appointment of Christian Estrosi: does accepting this State Secretary position mean he will not pursue the Mayorship of Nice? He cannot hold the positions of Deputy, Mayor, President of the General Council, and State Secretary simultaneously. Will he give up the Overseas Territories for the City Hall? It is possible. It must irk him. But it’s difficult to campaign locally with all these roles. More will be known in the weeks to come.
On the national level, the second Fillon government is generating much commentary. Unsurprisingly, Jean-Louis Borloo takes over from Alain Juppé as the Minister of State, Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development, and Spatial Planning. Christine Lagarde takes Jean-Louis Borloo’s former position at the Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Employment. Michel Barnier replaces Christine Lagarde at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. François Fillon continues his outreach to the left. Jean-Marie Bockel (PS) and mayor of Mulhouse was named Secretary of State in charge of Cooperation and Francophonie, and he was immediately “fired” from the Socialist Party. Valérie Létard (UDF) was appointed Secretary of State under the Minister of Labor, charged with Solidarity. The Prime Minister also continues to assign roles to figures from civil society and associations. For instance, Fadela Amara, founder of the association Neither Whores Nor Submissives, becomes Secretary of State in charge of Urban Policy. Her left-leaning background recalls the appointment, a month ago, of Martin Hirsch, president of Emmaus, to the position of High Commissioner for Active Solidarity against Poverty. Bernard Laporte, coach of the French Rugby Team and supporter of Nicolas Sarkozy’s campaign, will become, after the World Cup in autumn, Secretary of State for Youth and Sports. The government is rejuvenated with Laurent Wauquiez, aged 32, government spokesperson, and Rama Yade, aged 30, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights.
Other newcomers include:
André Santini, Secretary of State under the Minister of the Budget, charged with Public Service.
Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, Secretary of State under the Minister of Ecology, responsible for Ecology.
Hervé Novelli, Secretary of State under the Minister of the Economy, charged with Enterprises and External Trade.
Alain Marleix, Secretary of State under the Minister of Defense, responsible for Veterans.
Luc Chatel, Secretary of State under the Minister of the Economy, charged with Consumer Affairs and Tourism.
In total, alongside François Fillon as Prime Minister, fifteen ministers, sixteen secretaries of state, and one high commissioner, the government consists of eleven women and 22 men. The youngest is Rama Yade, aged 30, the oldest Bernard Kouchner at 67, with an average age of 50 years.
