WITH victory within reach, Nicolas Sarkozy has promised equality of the sexes in his cabinet, prompting a struggle among female supporters to lay claim to at least seven ministerial jobs being earmarked for women, writes Matthew Campbell.

“Les Sarkozettes”, as they have been called, range from veteran Gaullist figures such as Michèle Alliot-Marie, 61, the defence minister, to inexperienced young activists thrust into the limelight by chance and talent.

One of them is Rachida Dati, 41, a former judge of Arab immigrant origin. She has become one of Sarkozy’s most visible campaign advisers. A fierce and eloquent defender of his policies in television and radio interviews, Dati is being touted as a possible justice minister.

She has no experience in government but Sarkozy, a former interior minister, values her background as one of 11 siblings from a housing estate in central France and has used her to try to improve his relations with the riot-plagued immigrant suburbs.

Another young star and defector from the Socialist camp who may be offered a ministry is Rama Yade, 30, a Parisian of Senegalese origin who came to Sarkozy’s attention when she wrote him a letter to give her “woman’s opinion” of Ségolène Royal, his Socialist rival.

Sarkozy invited her to a meeting and was impressed by her boldness in criticising him. He asked her to address a crowd of 70,000 fans at a rally to mark his coronation as the candidate of the ruling party and she has never looked back, making frequent speeches on his behalf. “TSS,” she said in a speech in Rouen recently – referring to the Tout sauf Sarkozy (Anyone but Sarkozy) campaign – “stands for Tout sauf Ségolène.”

She was born in Senegal, where her mother was a school teacher and her father a private secretary to the Socialist president. The family moved to France when her father was posted to Paris as a diplomat.

She is married to a Socialist and says Sarkozy is like “a nice godfather” to her.

By French standards, the government envisaged by Sarkozy will be small, with only 15 ministers. He has dropped strong hints that he would name his campaign director François Fillon, 53, a former social affairs and education minister, as his prime minister.

Another top job is expected to go to Alain Juppé, 61, Chirac’s former party chief and prime minister. Jean-Louis Borloo, 56, the social affairs minister under Chirac, can also expect a prominent role.

In return for becoming one of the most ferocious critics of Royal, Alliot-Marie, the daughter of an international rugby referee, is likely to be rewarded with an offer to stay on in the globe-trotting defence role that she is said to adore.

Other supporters may end up being disappointed: rumour has it that Sarkozy, eager to keep his troops motivated right up until the finishing line, may have offered the same job to more than one person.

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