June 19, 2002	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 7, 1423

PARIS, June 18: Promising to get things moving as early as possible, France’s new prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, has already announced the composition of his new government, which includes 38 members, 10 of whom are women.

Of them, there is a former speaker of the European Parliament, Nicole Fontaine, who will be in charge of industrial affairs, a Socialist, Noelle Lenoir who will be responsible for European Affairs, but perhaps the best-known is Claudie Haignere, the country’s first woman astronaut.

Another surprise appointee was Hamlaoui Mekachera, 71, a French national of Algerian origin and president of the National Council of French Muslims, whose movement has staunchly supported President Chirac. He has been named state secretary in charge of military veterans.

Moreover, Mr Raffarin, who admits that he has “only” five years in which to reform the French state practically from top to bottom, says that he is calling an “exceptional” summer session of the newly-elected National Assembly, that is to get under way in the first days of July, although normally Parliament is not scheduled to meet again until the Fall.