Tuesday, June 19, 2007

The Girl Can Help It

Or, at least Sarko thinks she can:

A former lawyer and trade minister, Christine Lagarde on Tuesday became the first woman to head France's economy and finance ministry, confirming her status as one of the world's most powerful women.

Lagarde, 51, was appointed by President Nicolas Sarkozy to replace Jean-Louis Borloo who climbed to the number two position in government in a reshuffle following parliamentary elections.

A former champion synchronized swimmer, the silver-haired Lagarde was ranked by Forbes magazine as the 30th most powerful woman in the world in 2006 when as trade minister she was credited for a nearly 10 percent boost in exports.

While women have been named to junior economic portfolios, Lagarde will be the first to head the key ministry in a government that saw women appointed to seven of the 15 ministerial posts.

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