Posted: Wed, Jan 29, 2003, 8:41 PM ET (0141 GMT)
The head of the French space agency CNES announced Wednesday that he planned to resign because of a perceived lack of support from the French government. Alain Bensoussan said in a statement that he did not have "the essential means to continue my task" of reforming the agency under tightening budgetary constraints. Bensoussan was apparently prompted to resign after a report delivered to French research minister (and former astronaut) Claudie Haignere failed to give him a vote of confidence. Bensoussan, who has been president of CNES for seven years, has had to deal with declining budgets since 1997 and an increased number of programs, along with a workforce that has grown increasingly vocal in its concern that the agency has no clear direction. Gerard Brachet, the director-general of CNES — a role roughly equivalent to chief executive compared to the president's role as chairman — resigned late last year. Space News reported that while Bensoussan has desired to make his resignation effective immediately, the French government may ask him to stay on a few weeks until a successor is named.

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  AFP article
•  CNES press release (in French)