French interior minister resigns in face-off with Macron

[webfact]

French interior minister resigns in face-off with Macron

By Michel Rose

 

FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron sits next to Interior Minister Gerard Collomb as he leads the last cabinet meeting before the government goes on holidays at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France August 3, 2018. Michel Euler/Pool via Reuters/File Photo

 

PARIS (Reuters) - France's Emmanuel Macron was forced to accept his interior minister's resignation on Tuesday after early ally Gerard Collomb insisted he wanted to step down despite the president having rejected his resignation less than 24 hours earlier.

 

Collomb, 71, a former Socialist party stalwart who became one of Macron's earliest and most eager backers, had earlier told the conservative Le Figaro newspaper he wanted to resign so he could run for election as mayor of his hometown Lyon.

 

"The French people and the people of Lyon need clarity, so I maintain my offer to resign," Collomb responded when asked whether he would stay on as interior minister after Macron initially turned down his resignation on Monday.

 

"Considering the rumours and the pressure, I don't want the fact I will be a candidate somewhere tomorrow to affect the way forward for the interior ministry," he said.

 

Late on Tuesday, Macron's office said the president had accepted Collomb's resignation and that Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who reportedly cancelled a trip to South Africa, would assume his responsibilities until a replacement was found.

 

Collomb's comments were seen by critics as an unprecedented challenge to Macron's authority, coming just weeks after the 40-year-old centrist was forced to replace his popular environment minister and the sports minister.

 

Two weeks ago, Collomb announced plans via a newspaper interview to quit the government and run for mayor of Lyon in 2020, returning to a position he has previously held. [nL8N1WH6V2]

 

He initially indicated that he would resign after European elections in May 2019. But opposition rivals said the comments undermined his legitimacy as the head of one of the most sensitive portfolios in France, where Islamist militants have killed hundreds of people since 2012.

 

Collomb had in recent weeks been critical of Macron, speaking of a "lack of humility" in the president's administration and dismissing expressions often used by Macron, such as "start-up nation," as out of touch with common folk.

 

"Very few of us can still talk to (Macron)," Collomb was quoted by French media as telling a small group of journalists over lunch last month. "Soon he won't put up with me anymore. But if we all bow down before him, he'll end up isolated."

 

Only a week ago, presidential advisers said Macron had made clear to Collomb that the timing of his resignation would be decided by the president himself, who is regarded as running a tight ship with heavy demands on time and loyalty.

 

Macron's approval ratings have plunged to about 30 percent, from around 60 percent shortly after he was elected in May 2017. Critics have said that his policies favour the rich and his personal manner is often described as aloof and arrogant.

 

Macron has said that he is determined to do whatever it takes to overhaul the French economy and introduce other social reforms to put the country on a stronger path.

 

(Reporting by Michel Rose Editing by Luke Baker, Jon Boyle, Toni Reinhold)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-03

[Retiredandhappyhere]

Macron is living down to my expectations of him.  He sees himself as THE leader of the EU, particularly once Merkel's chickens finally come home to roost  His honeymoon period is well and truly over and he will be extremely lucky to earn a second term.

[llz]

Macron is an arrogant president who spends a lot of time cursing most French citizens, especially the poor (who "would find jobs if they only crossed the road") and the retirees who "always complain", which is rather usual when only the elderly must deal with increased taxes and freezed income. He is especially keen at criticizing his country and his fellowmen when abroad. He is now trying to weaken the Parliament's rights so that he as a President would have still more power.

Polls show that his approval rating is dwindling month after month and is lower than Hollande's one after 15 months in position.

His last show in French ruled St-Martin island in the West Indies where he was snapped almost cuddling with two young and sexy local hunks (but real thugs) will not improve his popularity, as six months before he had cursed and shamed a young (white-skinned) teen who had only dared to call him by his nickmname "Manu". And Collomb's resignation comes only one month after Hulot, another popular Minister, had stepped down.

French people feel now that no one is in charge except for giving useless money to the rich and the big companies and snatching more power for the caste now in power.

 

 

 

Edited October 5, 2018 by llz

[sirocco]

And where is the photo where he rubs his face against the chest of his friend whose pants we see that he does not hesitate to make a finger of honor.
Yes, after being raised by 3 meres and grandmother, King Emmanuel I needs to shake, and he plays with all toys made available to him.
  Remember: the telephone at the Elysee, the game of tennis on a wheelchair, his war cry "I'm your boss" in front of the greatest army chief. Okay, so on.

As for Collomb, it's not a loss, he knew nothing, but nothing.
He did not even know Ben Allah.
For Hulot, he drops bears on the shepherds in France. Not a big loss.
2 less whiners.

Come on, I'll cross the street to see if I can not find the sun, because in Thailand, right now !!!

[sirocco]

Bah! people are so stupid and so short in memory that his majesty, King Emmanuel I, is very likely to be re-elected.