President Nicolas Sarkozy of France will seek to regain the political initiative after a heavy defeat in Sunday's local elections by adopting a more discreet and disciplined style of leadership.

After his UMP party lost control of 38 of France's largest towns and cities to the opposition Socialists, Mr Sarkozy shook up his team of advisers at the Elysée palace, getting rid of his spokesman, scrapping weekly press conferences and enhancing the authority of his two most senior aides.