Rachida Dati faces Sarkozy’s axe

The impending reshuffle in President Nicolas Sarkozy's government looks bad for two of its most glamorous stars. Both the justice minister, Rachida Dati, and  the human rights minister, Rama Yade, are said to be facing the axe.

Dati, 43, is a controversial figure at the best of times. Mystery still surrounds the identity of the father of her unborn child, with some reports alleging it is sports minister Bernard Laporte, and others that it's Jose Maria Aznar, the former Spanish prime minister (both men have denied it). However, the current speculation centres on her high-handed manner towards France's judges and prison staff. According to Le Point magazine, Dati infuriated the President Sarkozy by cancelling a key meeting with prison representatives in order to have breakfast with Prince Albert of Monaco. Her critics claim this is part and parcel of a high-handed style and her love of the social side of her position.

Great things had been expected of Rama Yade, 31, who has been dubbed "France's Condoleeza Rice". Yet according to sources in the government, the President has expressed "deep disappointment" with his young protege. Because of her poor performance, he wanted her to leave the cabinet and run in the European Parliamentary elections in June, but in an interview on Sunday she openly defied this request, which he said was a personal "betrayal".

Yade's fall from grace is said to please Carla Bruni, who is believed to be keen to speak informally on humanitarian causes in her role as first lady. ·