In France, President Jacques Chirac has named Dominique de Villepin as the country’s new prime minister after voters rejected a referendum on the European Union Constitution. Villepin is the former French ambassador to the United Nations and a close ally of Chirac. He replaces Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who resigned as prime minister earlier today. On Sunday, French voters decisively rejected ratification of the new European constitution, plunging president Chirac’s government into chaos and casting uncertainty on the future of European politics.