PARIS, Dec 5: President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday appointed a new minister for economic recovery charged with overseeing a massive stimulus plan to help France fight the global slowdown.

Patrick Devedjian, a close Sarkozy ally and the current head of the governing right-wing UMP party, will implement the 26-billion-euro plan unveiled on Thursday.

Sarkozy said the new minister would ensure all funds unlocked under the plan, which includes massive state investment and aid for the car industry, are used for that purpose, and not simply folded into existing ministry budgets.

“This plan will be implemented in full and it will be implemented quickly,” the president said.—AFP