Early this month, France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy, announced his Cabinet lineup. Although the legislative elections mid-June made him reshuffle his team, the Minister of Education and the Minister of Higher Education and Research remained in office:
Xavier Darcos was named Minister of Education. He is the mayor of Périgueux and a former inspector for the Ministry of Education and staff coordinator ("directeur de cabinet") for François Bayrou at the Ministry of Education. Xavier Darcos was also education adviser to Prime Minister Alain Juppé (1995-1997), and Minister for Secondary Education under Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.
Valérie Pécresse, was named Minister of Higher Education and Research. Pécresse was an adviser to former president Jacques Chirac and is the former spokesperson for Sarkozy’s party, the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP). She will be charged with reforming the university system, a move that will likely trigger protests.
Government PortalMinistry of Higher Education 
