Macron to reshuffle cabinet to reenergise reform drive
PARIS : French President Emmanuel Macron hopes to draw a line under a raf t of troubles plaguing his 16-monthold presidency and to re- energise his economic reform drive with a cabinet reshuffle yesterday
Macron was forced into the move by the surprise exit of his former ecology minister, Nicolas Hulot, who said he despaired at what he felt were hollow commitments on environmental policy.
Resigning live on air last week, Hulot’s resignation was a setback for the 40-year- old French leader, who returned from the summer break reeling from a bodyguard scandal and preparing to embark on a new wave of economic reforms.
Benjamin Griveaux, government spokesman, said the cabinet would be complete in time for Wednesday morning’s weekly cabinet meeting but was tight-lipped on the scope of the rejig.
Hours before the expected announcement, Sports Minister Laura Flessel said she was resigning from the government for personal reasons.
“I will continue to be a faithful team mate of the president and prime minister, whose determination I admire and whose values and patriotism I share,” said Flessel, a former Olympic fencing champion and one of Macron’s most popular ministers.
For much of Macron’s first year in power, the former investment banker appeared untouchable, self-assured and unphased by his falling popularity as he pushed through investor-friendly reforms with a business-like efficiency.
Recently, however, Macron has looked more vulnerable.
Economic growth is slower than forecast, undermining his deficitbusting credentials. Usual ly decisive, he is wavering on an impending tax collection reform. Meanwhile, voters are growing impatient with his monarchical style and sharp tongue.
“It wasn’t supposed to happen to this president. He promised to be audacious in his reforms, efficient in the exercise of power, and the embodiment of dignity. In his first few months the promise was kept, but now everything is going wrong,” the right-leaning Le Figaro said in an editorial on Monday.
Macron has sold its pro-business reform drive on promises that it will boost growth and jobs, but voters spanning typically conservative pensioners to lowincome workers complain the president’s policies favour big business and the wealthy.
Next up for hi s cent ri st government is tackling social spending — a delicate political balancing act as he seeks to restore credibility with left-leaning voters — just as weaker- than- forecast growth puts pressure on the budget deficit and his popularity plumbs new lows.
Macron’s election victory, which blew apart France’s mainstream parties and halted the march of the far-right National Front party, delighted French business and urban, liberal voters.
But prone to haughty and at times condescending remarks, he has struggled to connect with common folk.
An IFOP-Fiducial opinion poll yesterday showed just 31 per cent of respondents were happy with his performance as support eroded across all ages on both the political left and right.