Nicolas Sarkozy, le President de la France, has, as promised, appointed the Socialist Bernard Kouchner, co-founder of Doctors without Borders, as his foreign minister.

Today's New York Times has an informative profile, spiced with some telling tidbits.

Mr. Kouchner, who has served as Frances health minister and theUnited Nations administrator for Kosovo, has also been the countrysmost popular politician on the left over the years.

Elegant, dapper, with movie-star looks despite his age, Mr. Kouchner is half of one of Frances leading power couples.

Hislongtime partner, Christine Ockrent, is probably Frances best-knownfemale television journalist. They entertain regularly from their grandduplex apartment overlooking the Luxembourg Garden; they always get thebest restaurant tables. They have been tarred by their critics with thelabel gauche caviar, Champagne-and-caviar socialism at its worst.

[snip]

Longtime friends of Mr. Kouchner are delighted for him, but worriedthat his blunt-speaking, off-the-cuff style may clash with that of hisnew boss. Sarkozys views are totally different from those ofBernard, said Max Recamier, one of the doctors with whom Mr. Kouchnerfounded Doctors Without Borders. He hesitated a lot before accepting.But what drives him is not a hunger for power but a passion forpromoting justice and easing suffering in the world. And lets face it,hes 67 now. Hes mellowed like a good wine.