Claudia Cardinale
© AFP/File Anne-Christine PoujoulatPARIS (AFP) - A women's group had complained after Sarkozy announced a first group of recipients in July that women were under-represented.
The second list of his presidency, announced in the official gazette on Thursday, includes six women and six men who have been promoted to a higher rank in the Legion.
Among the recipients for the award recognizing outstanding service to the republic are Egyptologist Christiane Desroches-Nobelcourt, Sister Emmanuelle and Italian actress Claudia Cardinale.
Designer Jean-Louis Scherrer, master perfumer Jean-Paul Guerlain and photographer Willy Ronis also are honoured.
The women's network group "Demain la Parite" (Tomorrow, Equality) said it welcomed the government's move to ensure women were equally represented in the national award.
©AFP