French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron Quits Tuesday Aug 30,2016

 

France's 38-year-old Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron stepped down, fuelling speculation that he will vie to become the country's youngest ever president in next year's elections

A thorn in the side of President Francois Hollande's Socialist government, the reform-minded minister handed in his resignation after sailing down the Seine River for the meeting at the Elysee Palace with his one-time champion.

The president’s office released a statement saying Macron had resigned and that Finance Minister Michel Sapin would take over the economy portfolio. The former investment banker and self-made millionaire quit “to dedicate himself entirely to his political movement”, the presidency said, referring to “En Marche” (On the Move), which he founded in April 2016

Emmanuel Macron would be a fresh face in a presidential field that includes former president Nicolas Sarkozy, 61, and 71-year-old ex-prime minister Alain Juppe — both right-wing candidates. Marine Le Pen, 48, of the far-right anti-immigration National Front, is standing for a second time in elections set for April 23 and May 7, 2017.

Emmanuel Macron’s departure is a blow to Hollande, whose approval ratings are the lowest of any post-war French president. He has pledged not to seek re-election if he fails to rein in stubbornly high unemployment, which is hovering at around 10 percent.