Monday, November 15, 2010

New Government


As of today France has a new government. Don't go thinking President Sarkozy resigned or anything, no, in France we have a weird system: the President is elected every 5 years, he then appoints a Prime Minister who appoints the other ministers. When things go a little shaky (like recently with the retirement law that put many people in the streets), the President calls for a new Prime Minister who then appoints new Ministers... This time though, the new Prime Minister remained the same as the old one (François Fillon), only the rest of the team got reshuffled (more on France 24). Are you still following? Anyway, it gives me the opportunity to use a photo that I took about a month ago while Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterrand (the nephew to François Mitterrand, the former French President) inaugurated le Studio 13/16, a place dedicated to Teenagers in the Beaubourg center. He happens to remain at the very same position in the new Government...

9 comments:

  1. You think your government is weird? I've got some stories...

    Also, I watched part of the W interview, in which he insists everything was great and he did everything right. Sheesh. Thankfully, I was at the health club and there were additional televisions with additional absurdities to watch. Like the Vikings, our pitiful football team.

    ReplyDelete
  2. the more it changes, the more it stays the same !

    ReplyDelete
  3. He looks tired. I wouldn't want his job for anything!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Eric, may I slightly amend your explanation?
    The Prime Minister does not appoint the ministers. He makes proposals to the President who then appoints the ministers ;-)

    OK it's just a nuance, but politics is sometimes (only!) an art of nuances...

    ReplyDelete
  5. @Thib. OK, OK, you're right! Let's say it's a team work ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Is Mr. F. Mitterrand the same nephew of Francois that you spotted when we went to dinner at La Cigale 2 yrs. ago?

    ReplyDelete
  7. I wouldn't want any of their jobs for anything! Politics are something I could definitely live without for many years and be happy. I guess for Sarkozy's government, if you have the right people, don't mess with it, eh? Or maybe just change their position in the ministry to find a better fit. Either way, rather watch my Bears!! (*smirk to Jeff*) :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. @PHX "Is Mr. F. Mitterrand the same nephew of Francois that you spotted when we went to dinner at La Cigale 2 yrs. ago?" I don't remember, but I suppose. He's the only famous one!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Finally someone explained the system to me. I'll buy both Eric and Thib's explanation, but it all seems a bit bizarre to me. How'd you get so close to this Mitterand Eric?

    ReplyDelete