Dominique de Villepin was named French new prime minister on Tuesday in a shake-up of the government that came after a crushing defeat over the European Union's constitution. Photo by Le Monde
French President Jacques Chirac has appointed Dominique de Villepin as prime minister to head a new government in the wake of the EU constitution referendum defeat. Villepin, 51, who headed so far the Interior Ministry will replace Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who resigned after voters on Sunday rejected the ratification of a European Union constitution. Chirac's office said he would address the nation in the evening.