Laurent Fabius leaves French foreign ministry

LAURENT Fabius, the French foreign minister, confirmed yesterday long-standing rumours that he would resign to take up the position as head of the Constitutional Council, the rough equivalent of the United States (U.S.) Supreme Court.

“This is a house I liked a lot and we’ve done a good job,” Fabius said in an interview with TV channel iTélé. Coming out of the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysée palace, he replied “Yes” to shouted questions from reporters if it had been his last.

Government spokesman, Stephane Le Foll, said French President François Hollande had formally put forward Fabius’ name as president of the Conseil Constitutionnel, and that the foreign minister would be auditioned by parliamentary committees next week. He will remain a government member until then.