France is settling down for a fascinating spectacle: the premiershipof Dominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin. Whatever else one could say about the new prime minister, his term in office is unlikely to be dull.

This is partly due to the circumstances in which he moves into the Matignon. France's political establishment has been sent reeling by its wrenching defeat in Sunday's referendum on Europe's constitutional treaty. Jacques Chirac's popularity rating has crashed to new lows as he tries to shore up France's place in Europe and grapples with the worst crisis of his 10-year presidency.