France's President Nicolas Sarkozy waits to cast his ballot in the first round local elections in Paris March 9, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    PARIS, March 18 (Xinhua) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy undertook a mini-reshuffle of the government Tuesday, the presidential office announced.

    The office announced the creation of six new junior posts, for digital economy, employment, consumption, families, urbanism and the greater Paris region.

    Meanwhile, the government widened the mandate of 12 ministers including Finance Minister Christine Lagarde who will also take control of industry and employment.

    The reshuffle came after Sarkozy's center-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party suffered a big setback in local elections at the weekend, the president's first electoral test since coming to power in May 2007.