PARIS, March 30: French President Jacques Chirac defied public opinion on Tuesday by keeping his prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, but ordered a government reshuffle after his ruling conservatives were routed in regional elections.

The decision to retain the unpopular Raffarin prompted the left-wing opposition to accuse Chirac of ignoring the French people, and raised new doubts about the speed and scope of cost-cutting reforms.

"Jacques Chirac has just given the French people the two fingers (insult)," Jean-Marc Ayrault, head of the Socialists in parliament, said. The presidency said in a statement that the make-up of the new cabinet would be announced on Wednesday.

Chirac delayed a visit to Moscow by a day to allow him to attend its first meeting on Friday. The foreign minister cancelled a visit to Berlin and delayed a trip to Haiti amid speculation that he might receive a new post. -Reuters