France's government resigned today in a procedural move designed to allow President Nicolas Sarkozy to inject some fresh blood into his cabinet and boost his re-election chances in 2012.
Prime Minister Francois Fillon handed in his government's resignation ahead of a long-awaited ministerial reshuffle expected in the coming days.
Mr Sarkozy is widely expected to reappoint trusted ally Fillon as prime minister and avoid major surprises when he switches a handful of ministers in an attempt to shore up support in his conservative base 18 months before general elections.
Energy Minister Jean-Louis Borloo, who was at one stage considered favourite to replace Mr Fillon, also met with Mr Sarkozy earlier today.
Mr Sarkozy emerged victorious from a drawn out battle with unions over pension reform but remains deeply unpopular with approval ratings below 30%.
The Le Figaro newspaper said Mr Fillon would remain prime minister in a cabinet line up Mr Sarkozy said several months ago he would change once his pension reforms were law.
Economy Minister Christine Lagarde, Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux, Education Minister Luc Chatel, Budget Minister Francois Baroin and Agriculture Minister Bruno le Maire would also keep their jobs, the paper said.
Former Prime Minister Alain Juppe suggested earlier on France Info radio that he would join the government and remain mayor of the major southwestern city of Bordeaux.
Jean-Pierre Raffarin, another ex-prime minister, said Fillon should step down because deeper change was needed.
The policies of the past three years had not helped the ruling party and this year's regional elections were catastrophic, he said.
However, Dominique Paille, spokesman for the ruling centre-right UMP party, told LCI television that Mr Sarkozy's failure to immediately reappoint Mr Fillon suggested there could still be surprises.
