Christine Lagarde is the business-friendly face of the French government. The first woman to be finance minister of a G7 advanced economy is a former competition and employment lawyer who rose to the top of the largest law firm in the US.

She is well versed in Anglo-Saxon business practices and liberal economics, speaks impeccable English and has a reputation for competence and pragmatism. They are qualities that persuaded President Nicolas Sarkozy four months ago to entrust a political near-novice with one of the most senior positions in the government.