Macron reshuffles cabinet amid criticism after riots

[ad_1]

French President Emmanuel Macron reshuffled his cabinet on Thursday for important domestic sectors such as education, housing and urban affairs, as his administration began its response to the country’s three-week unrest. The biggest change came at the education ministry, where budget minister Gabriel Attal, 34, replaced Pap Ndiaye, a black studies scholar who had been criticized by right-wing conservatives.

The reshuffle comes during the second term of President Emmanuel Macron who has faced internal crises including months of protests over pension reform and five days of riots after police shot and killed an Algerian and Moroccan teenager during a traffic stop. Other party figures are also joining the ranks of the government, including Aurore Berg, leader of the Macrons Renaissance group in the National Assembly, who takes over as the new Minister of Solidarity. Thomas Cazenave will replace Attal as budget minister, Politico.eu reported.

Marlne Schiappa, who was Minister Delegate for Social Economy, is leaving the government after holding several ministerial posts since 2017. Schiappa has come under fire during heated parliamentary debates over Macron’s unpopular pension reforms for posing on the cover of Playboy magazine. She has also faced cronyism allegations over the use of state grants aimed at countering online radicalization.

Heavyweights such as Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and Interior Minister Grad Darmanin continue to hold office, as do European and Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna and Secretary of State for Europe Laurence Boone, Politico.eu reported. 57-year-old academic Ndiaye, whose appointment last year sparked controversy over his alleged revival programme, has failed to score his wallet despite education being touted as a priority for Macron’s second term.

The new education minister is a rising star in Macron’s inner circle, drawn from socialist ranks. Since 2018, Attal has steadily risen through the political ranks, starting as a government spokesperson, moving on to deputy minister posts and, more recently, to the powerful budget portfolio, Politico.eu reported. When he was first appointed to government five years ago, he became the youngest minister in the history of the fifth republic.

Attal is, in some ways, the exact opposite of the historian Ndiaye: often described as ambitious, Attal is a shrewd and fluid political operator who has spent most of his adult life in politics. Known for his slogans against political opponents, he has sought in recent years to prove he can manage an administration and tackle dry technical issues, according to Les Echos, Politico.eu reported. Observers say the French president has refrained from making sweeping changes to his squad, instead aiming for continuity and stability ahead of the challenges expected over the next year.

In the fall, the government will present its budget for 2024 and will probably face stiff opposition in parliament where its coalition is in a minority. The Macron government has survived several no-confidence motions in the National Assembly, but could face more in the coming months. (ANI)

(This story has not been edited by the Devdiscourse team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

[ad_2]