Sarkozy Expected To Move Carefully With Reshuffle

`The president does not want the French people to interpret this adjustment as a political response to the crisis`, a source said.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to make only limited changes in a long-awaited government reshuffle due in the next few days, promoting two favourites but avoiding any drastic ministerial bloodletting.

With France expected to tip into recession this year and public gloom deepening over the fallout from the financial crisis, key figures like Prime Minister Francois Fillon or Economy Minister Christine Lagarde are expected to stay.

"The president does not want the French people to interpret this adjustment as a political response to the crisis," a source in Sarkozy's entourage said last week.

Sarkozy has sought to quash speculation about discord with Fillon, whose low-key style appears to sit uneasily with his own restless manner and aides have stressed that he wants a smooth, seamless reshuffle.

Although confirmation will have to wait until later this week or early next week, most of the changes are an open secret with Immigration Minister Brice Hortefeux, one of those expected to move, holding a valedictory-style news conference on Tuesday.

Hortefeux, the minister who has led a controversial drive to expel thousands of illegal immigrants from France, is due to move to Social Affairs, replacing Xavier Bertrand who takes over as head of the president's centre-right UMP party.

One of Sarkozy's closest allies, Hortefeux should be able to cultivate a more conciliatory image in the post, which covers sensitive issues like labour and pensions and the move could confirm his status as a potential long-term successor to Fillon.

"It's a very nice trampoline," Jobs Secretary Laurent Wauquiez was quoted by the daily Le Figaro on Tuesday as saying of the move.

Eric Besson, a former Socialist who defected to Sarkozy's camp just before the 2007 election, is expected to replace Hortefeux at immigration, having won Sarkozy's approval with behind-the-scenes work as a junior economy minister.

By moving a one-time leftist into such a sensitive ministry, Sarkozy will hope to broaden the debate on immigration and undermine Socialist accusations of political extremism.

Some other potential changes are expected to be put on hold, including possible moves for Justice Minister Rachida Dati and for Human Rights Minister Rama Yade, both of whom have had to weather controversy recently.

Dati, from a North African immigrant family and Senegalese-born Yade have both been held up as examples of Sarkozy's determination to open up key government posts to ethnic minorities.

But Yade's open refusal to comply with Sarkozy's wish for her to stand in upcoming European elections has annoyed the president, while Dati's conflicts with magistrates' unions over justice reforms have raised questions over her competence.