French expats get their own minister
Former judo champion is appointed junior minister to represent and protect French citizens living abroad
FRENCH citizens living abroad are to have their own minister representing their interests.
Former judo champion David Douillet has been appointed to the newly created role of junior minister for French expatriates.
Douillet, who retired from judo shortly after winning gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, has been an MP for the Yvelines since 2009 and also sits on the Ile-de-France regional council.
Explaining his new job, he said: "The two million French citizens living abroad are in a way ambassadors for France, permanently representing their native country.
"They are an important part of the French population and need to be protected and listened to."
As of next year, France will also have 11 MPs in the National Assembly specifically for expats, with the world being divided up into constituencies. It is planned that the MP for Britain will also cover Ireland and Scandinavia.
Douillet's appointment is one of a number of changes announced yesterday following finance minister Christine Lagarde's signing as the new head of the International Monetary Fund.
She will be replaced by François Baroin, who in turn will be replaced by Valérie Pécresse as budget minister.
The job of higher education minister, vacated by Pécresse, is taken by Laurent Wauquiez, whose role as Europe minister goes to Jean Leonetti.
Claude Greff has been named family minister, Marc Laffineur is minister responsible for war veterans and François Sauvadet is the new civil service minister, replacing Georges Tron who left the government last month following sex abuse claims.
Photo: Marie-Lan Nguyen/Flickr
