Speaking to Radio Wales on Thursday, Dave Barrett, head of the Urban Post Office Network for Wales, said the decision to close so many branches was regrettable.

BBC: City to lose 16 post offices

According to AFP, he was sidelined to some degree when Mr Sarkozy took office in 2007 but made good use of a largely symbolic post - head of the UMP's parliamentary delegation - to raise his profile.

BBC: Profile: Jean-Francois Cope, leader of France's UMP