Top general quits over row with Macron

FRANCE’S top military officer resigned yesterday following an unprecedented public row with President Macron over £750 million in defence cuts.

General Pierre De Villiers, 60, even wrote on social media about the issue, prompting Mr Macron, 39, to slap him down.

In turn, the General said the cuts meant he could no longer ‘guarantee the protection of France and French people’. His resignation was accepted.

Last week Mr Macron said he wanted to make defence cuts to help bring the deficit below the EU limit of 3 per cent of GDP. This prompted the General to post on Facebook: ‘No one deserves to be followed blindly.’

On Bastille Day last Friday, Mr Macron hit back, saying: ‘It is undignified to wash dirty linen in public. I am your leader.’