Luis Fernando Ramirez, the new defence minister, is a loyal sidekick of the president's.

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He will be joined by Michel Barnier, a conservative former minister for Europe who is loyal to President Jacques Chirac and currently a senator from his Gaullist party.

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This loyal praise from Ms Rabin for the prime minister's moderation reflects the public mood.

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Mr Kuchma's choice as the new prime minister, Anatoly Kinakh, a loyal ally whose nomination narrowly squeaked through the parliament on May 29th, is best known as a business lobbyist.

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And Benny Begin, also once a minister under Mr Netanyahu, has proclaimed a new party of the right, loyal to the Likud's now-compromised belief in Greater Israel, with himself as its leader and candidate for prime minister.

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The defense minister, Admiral Diego Molero, appeared on television to say the military would remain loyal to the constitution.

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Several ministers loyal to Mr Mbeki may choose to resign, but Trevor Manuel, the well-respected finance minister, has already said that he would stay.

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France's President Jacques Chirac has already pushed his prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin , to fall on his own sword, replacing him with the loyal and statist Dominique de Villepin .

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