Revision in France: the government of Édouard Philippe resigned

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe at the exit of the Elysée Palace, October 10, 2018. Eric Feferberg / AFP

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French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe handed over his government's resignation to President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, who accepted it, announced the Palais de l'Élysée, who said that A new head of government would be "appointed in the next hours ". A change desired by Emmanuel Macron who had announced a "new team" to follow a "new path" political for the last part of his mandate until the presidential elections of 2022

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Things are accelerating. Announced for several weeks, the reshuffle was expected in the wake of the second round of the munipical elections, marked by the defeat of the presidential party. But the suspense remains whole on the name of the next Prime Minister. By accepting the resignation of Edouard Philippe and his government, the Élysée Palace did not say whether the head of government or minister will be renewed or replaced in Matignon.

“  Mr. Édouard Philippe today handed in the government's resignation to the President of the Republic, who accepted it. He ensures, with members of the government, the handling of current affairs until the appointment of the new government,  "said a short statement from the presidency.

For three years by my side, he has been carrying out remarkable work with successive governments and we have carried out important, historic reforms, in often very difficult circumstances  ," Emmanuel Macron pointed out in an interview with regional daily newspapers published on Friday.

New government known next Wednesday

Consequently, the Council of Ministers, scheduled for Friday morning, will not be held. The composition of the new government should be known before Wednesday, the date of the next cabinet, according to the entourage of the president.

All ministerial activity was immediately halted. At the Assembly, where the third draft revised budget was being examined, the meeting was suspended. Due to the resignation of the government, "  we are going to interrupt our work,  " said session chairman Hugues Renson (LREM), while Secretary of State Cédric O was present.

Macron and Philippe, controversial reforms

Emmanuel Macron had reaffirmed in April that he wanted to "  reinvent himself  " but without "  renouncing  " the reforms at the start of the quinquennium, leaving doubts about whether or not to keep Edouard Philippe, his Prime Minister since the start of the quinquennium. The course on which I embarked on in 2017 remains true,  " he reaffirmed this Thursday in his interview with the regional press.

Since the start of the five-year term, Édouard Philippe has always been reappointed, but in total 17 ministers have left the government, including 13 who have resigned. The most recent was Agnès Buzyn.

Prime Minister more popular than Emmanuel Macron according to opinion polls, Edouard Philippe came from the right and never joined the party La République en Marche under President Macron.

Since coming to power, the two men have carried out several controversial reforms, such as that of unemployment insurance. They faced multiple crises, including that of the yellow vests and the health crisis linked to Covid-19.

Change in continuity

With or without Édouard Philippe, the next government will be responsible for applying the "  new path  " that Emmanuel Macron began to design, with a priority on health policy, old age and a plan for youth.

“  I would have to make choices to lead the new path. These are new objectives of independence, reconstruction, reconciliation and new methods to be implemented. behind there will be a new team, "said the president. A change that promises to be a continuation, with in particular the resumption of construction of the pension reform.

(With AFP)

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