News Analysis: Why did the French "Mr. Ban" replace the "Prime Minister"
Xinhua News Agency, Paris, July 3 - News Analysis: France, "Mr. lifted" Why instead of "public opinion prime minister."
Xinhua News Agency reporter Tang Ji
The French Presidential Palace suddenly announced on the 3rd that Prime Minister Philippe submitted a government resignation to President Macron and was approved. Only a few hours later, Macron appointed Jean Castel as the new prime minister. Philip’s sudden resignation and the rapid appointment of Jean Castel, known as “Mr. Ban”, were all surprising.
Unexpected: "Popular Opinion Prime Minister" suddenly resigned
According to a survey by Erlabé polling company, the five-year term is more than half, but President Macron's current opinion support rate is only about 35%. In order to increase public opinion support, it is common practice for the president to reorganize the government. In addition, Philip announced in March this year that he participated in the mayoral election of the northern coastal city of Le Havre and won, and also revealed his own attitude of resigning as prime minister.
However, according to surveys conducted by polling agencies, Philip has worked hard in the fight against the new crown epidemic and won the trust of the French people. As many as 55% of French people want Philip to stay in office. "Leave Philip and lead a new government" has become a hot topic in recent French public opinion.
In an interview with the French local newspaper Mountain News on the 2nd, Macron made it clear on the one hand that he would establish "a new (government) team" to realize the "social, economic, environmental and local reconstruction plan." On the other hand, he did not answer the question of "Does Philip stay in office?" He only repeatedly emphasized the relationship of "mutual trust" with Philip, and spoke highly of Philip's leadership in advancing the country's reforms at a very difficult time.
Will Philip be left to use his "popularity", or will he take a new path? Macron did not give a clear attitude before. This made Philip's resignation appear suddenly on the morning of the 3rd.
Reasonable: "Mr. Ban" as prime minister
The French media believes that Macron chose Jean Castel for two main reasons. First of all, from April this year, he was appointed by the government as the "embargo" commissioner, responsible for coordinating the government's policies and work during the lifting of the new crown epidemic prevention and control measures, so he was called "Mr. Embargo" by the French. He is familiar with the lifting measures that the government is implementing and supports the economic reconstruction plan advocated by Macron.
Second, Jean Castel has long served as mayor of Prades, Pyrenees-Orientales, and has extensive experience in local governance. In the French municipal elections held recently, there was a problem of high voter abstention rate, which reflects the disappointment of many French people on the current political situation. Macron urgently needs a more down-to-earth politician to change this phenomenon.
According to French media reports, the candidates for the new government will be determined before the ministerial meeting on July 8. The new crown epidemic highlights the French economic and social contradictions. Can the new government successfully cope with the huge challenges and create a "new road" for economic and social reconstruction in the second half of President Macron's term? This needs further observation.