French Prime Minister Francois Fillon submitted his and his government's resignation and French President Nicolas Sarkozy has accepted them, Sarkozy's office said Saturday. The French constitution stipulates that if the PM steps down, the government has no head and is therefore resigned.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and his government resigned on Saturday before a long-awaited ministerial reshuffle, according to a statement from President Nicolas Sarkozy's office.
The move, described by analysts as a formality, allows Mr Sarkozy to appoint new ministers without first having to dismiss those holding posts.
Government sources say Mr Fillon is likely to be reappointed prime minister, the AFP news agency reports.
Mr Sarkozy had previously indicated he would reshuffle his cabinet after controversial reforms to the country's pension system were passed by parliament.
The reforms were approved last month, but led to widespread protests.
PARIS--President Nicolas Sarkozy could reshuffle his cabinet as early as next week, government sources said on Tuesday, as he seeks to move on from an unpopular pension reform and look ahead to a 2012 election.
Sources say he will retain Francois Fillon, a capable ally who appeals to his core conservative electorate, as prime minister, and could bring in Alain Juppe, a former prime minister and heavyweight of the ruling centre-right UMP party.
Sarkozy is still fine-tuning his choices for ministries like finance and foreign affairs, the sources said, but will serve up a trimmer cabinet with a better gender balance and redraw some ministry lines as he aims to put a messy showdown with unions over pension reform behind him.
