A dozen of young elected officials from 2002 are

Strong poles, entrusted to experienced Ministers: the Raffarin III Government announced yesterday evening focuses on action and on social cohesion. Almost all of the Ministers of the civil society are evicted. Jacques Chirac and Jean-Pierre Raffarin rely on "pros" of the policy to overcome the electoral debacle which hit head-on Sunday right.

Economy-finance-industry cluster headed by Nicolas Sarkozy, only promoted to the rank of Minister of State, signed the Government's determination to bring an action for growth and employment. Face-to-face, a social pole employment-work-cohesion, led by the atypical Jean-Louis Borloo will focus on "social justice" make a real priority. The health-welfare pole entrusted to Philippe Douste-Blazy recalled that health insurance reform is not forgotten. At the same time, the concern to restore the authority of the State is reaffirmed on three ministries: Justice, defence, the Interior as new strong man Dominique de Villepin, a relative of Jacques Chirac. Several other jurisdictions see expanded skills, including higher Education-research-education given to François Fillon. The head of these poles, policy professionals for mission to act but also show that after the quasi-départ of Alain Juppe of political succession right is ensured and is not confined to one Nicolas Sarkozy.

Transaction hours

The renewal, it is provided only at the level of State Secretaries. A dozen of young elected officials from 2002 are. They are there to embody the rejuvenation, but also openness to the business, the Executive not wanting to give the feeling of a chiraquie folded on his square meadow. Among these, several women Catherine Vautrin, Montchamp, Nelly Olin Marie-Anne, from elected representatives of the private sector Xavier Bertrand, Laurent Eynar, Philippe Briand , and lots of relatives of Alain Juppe.

In pain, after hours of transaction, the Raffarin III Government is, in the end, not all tightened: it has forty-three members, that is six more than the previous team. It is also not feminized (a woman than, six men over). And it is difficult to create the electroshock expected. Very active since Sunday, the opposition continued yesterday its momentum (see page 16). In the majority, the UDF is irreverent: François Bayrou has placed the bar from its requirements sufficiently high to have no extra pawn to the Government in the end: Gilles de Robien, beaten in Picardy, certainly gets a promotion with the land-use planning and decentralization as well as equipment and transportation. But no other Minister UDF did the forcing to be a part of the team. As Leftwards, François Bayrou has sights the next European elections. He wants a free hand to voice his difference and is visibly not greater chance of survival to the Government.

A double slogan

It is precisely against this impression of Government for a stay that will have control of Jacques Chirac and Jean-Pierre Raffarin. The President of the Republic, who has remained silent since the electoral debacle on Sunday, will speak on television tonight. Many urged to speak to explain his choice of maintaining Jean-Pierre Raffarin at Matignon, give meaning to the redesign and avoid that debate moved to the UMP on the line to follow. The Prime Minister will have on him treat the policy speech he will deliver Monday to the National Assembly. If it is unable to give specific content to the dual slogan of yesterday "action and social cohesion", it will not prevent speculation to intensify over the term of its lease. The war of leaders will likely play within the Government, where, with Nicolas Sarkozy, the strong man of Bercy, were placed by other pawns Dominique de Villepin, François Fillon, or even Jean-Louis Borloo that might well say gradually other ambitions. This is probably not a coincidence if the Prime Minister has brought to the faithful, Michel Barnier, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, François Goulard, or promoted to very close as Dominique Bussereau. The time is disturbed.