19 Mar 2008

UMP spokesperson becomes French overseas territories minister

11:47 am on 19 March 2008

A French government re-shuffle has seen the appointment of a spokesperson of the ruling UMP Party, Yves Jego as the new junior minister in charge of overseas territories.

Mr Jego replaces Christian Estrosi who resigned after becoming the mayor of Nice last weekend.

Mr Jego is also a member of the French assembly and the mayor of a town near Paris.

He has issued a statement to express his respect and affection for the French living in the overseas territories.

Mr Jego says he will visit the territories in the weeks to come.

It's still not known if President Nicolas Sarkozy will cancel his visit to French Polynesia next month which had been announced by Mr Estrosi.