France: Macron Reshuffles Cabinet amid Scandals

Local Editor

French President Emmanuel Macron is looking for a new start only a year and a half after his term started.

Macron reshuffled the cabinet Tuesday and made a rare televised address to assure France that all is well after a bruising summer which has seen his popularity rating plummet amid protests, scandals and gaffes.

"Europe is tipping almost everywhere toward extremes and again is giving way to nationalism, we need all our energy to succeed. I have confidence in us," Macron said.

Among the French people, Macron’s approval rating fell to 29% in September, an all-time low, after a summer of protests over proposed economic reforms and scandals involving his security aide Alexandre Benalla.

Benalla was filmed wearing a police helmet and beating May Day protesters in July, after which he was dismissed.

Last month, a selfie of him posing with a gun during Macron's campaign led to another investigation and questions over the President's judgment.

Macron has also been hit by resignations of key cabinet officials, especially environment minister Nicolas Hulot, who quit the government during a live radio interview in frustration at Macron's failure to tackle climate change.

Interior minister Gerard Collomb also announced his intention to leave the cabinet and return to his old job as mayor of Lyon. He was replaced by close Macron ally Christophe Castaner in the reshuffle Tuesday.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team