French President Nicolas Sarkozy went on prime time television Tuesday to address the French people after reshuffling his cabinet, laying out his conservative agenda ahead of a 2012 presidential vote. The interview on three French channels was aimed at setting out Sarkozy's political roadmap following the weekend reshuffle during which he renamed Francois Fillon as Prime Minister and as he assumes the leadership of the G20.

Speaking in the lavish surroundings of his Elysee Palace office, Sarkozy said he chose Fillon -- a surprise choice after months of political jockeying -- because he was "the best Prime Minister for France". "When I asked Francois Fillon to continue, it's because I have great trust in him, because he's very competent, because we've worked together for years without a cloud," Sarkozy told the three journalists interviewing him.

Sunday's reshuffle resulted in a leaner, more conservative government, with several centre-right and left-wing ministers fired to produce a team more likely to fall in behind Sarkozy's deficit-cutting austerity agenda.

The new cabinet has been criticised as "a campaign team" ahead of the early 2012 presidential election, and Sarkozy said he would only announce if he would stand or not in late 2011.The reshuffle came after months of intrigue and mass street protests against Sarkozy's extension of the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62, the key plank of his presidency aimed at reducing France's debt.