Sarkozy Reshuffles after Poll Loss

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has reshuffled his cabinet after a heavy defeat for his party in regional polls, reports BBC News.

France’s Labor Minister Xavier Darcos has been replaced by Budget Minister Eric Woerth, whose place is being taken by Francois Baroin. The poll has left President Sarkozy's centre-right UMP party in control of just one of the 22 regions in mainland France and Corsica.

With almost all votes counted, the UMP party had won 36%, while the Socialist-led opposition gained some 54%. Voter turnout was 51%.

The elections are the last major electoral test in France before the presidential election due in 2012.

Expert described the result as "a big wake-up call for quick and effective action" on unemployment and other economic challenges, while some say the vote showed that the centre-right had not been "convincing."

Opposition leader Martine Aubry said the results expressed the French people's "rejection of the politics of the president and the government."

One poll has suggested that 57% of people would like to see a change of government after the regional polls.