Economy row: French govt falls after rebel leftists call for U-turn
PARIS: France was thrown into fresh crisis on Monday after president Francois Hollande told his prime minister to form a new government, following a high-profile show of insubordination by the country’s firebrand economy minister.
Economy minister Arnaud Montebourg ciritised his own government’s approach on Sunday, expressing discontent over austerity measures and over what he perceived as Germany’s right wing “pushing around” France.
Prime minister Manuel Valls told French media that the minister had “crossed a yellow line” and submitted the resignation of his government to Hollande. The president’s office announced in a communique that a new cabinet will be announced on Tuesday.
Montebourg was publicly backed by education minister Benoit Hamon. Culture minister Aurélie Filipetti also expressed her discontent by writing a letter to Valls and Hollande, saying she doesn’t want to be part of the new cabinet. Hollande’s popularity ratings have been sliding with France mired in stagnant growth (0.7% in 2014) and unemployment soaring (10.4% in April 2014). The Socialist Party had performed poorly during local elections earlier this year. Hollande had appointed Valls PM earlier this April in a last ditch effort to restore his government’s credibility.
Montebourg is seen as someone who leans heavily towards protectionism. He ran for the 2012 French presidential elections on an antiglobalisation platform.