Jacques Chirac, France's president, on Tuesday sought to give new impetus to his embattled government after its humiliating defeat in Sunday's European referendum, by naming loyal ally Dominique de Villepin as prime minister.

In a surprise announcement last night, Mr Chirac also said he had asked Nicolas Sarkozy, his arch-rival and president of the ruling UMP party, to rejoin the government in an unspecified capacity. The AFP agency said Mr Sarkozy might return to his former post as interior minister.