French President Emmanuel Macron “feels ashamed” after a summer of political chaos looks set to continue.
Sources close to centrist Macron say that although he is all smiles in public behind the scenes he’s seething and weakened.
After a turbulent summer it has been claimed that the French leader feels isolated and is frustrated with his new right-wing government according to those close to him.
Macron appointed 73-year-old conservative Michel Barnier as prime minister which he had hoped would draw political upheaval to an end after snap legislative elections in July.
“I did not choose this government,” Macron recently told a trusted confidante, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, reports France24.
The president said of some of the most conservative ministers that they “make me feel ashamed”.
Another official said “I think the president is suffering” and that Macron “has chosen to stand aside but it must be costing him a great deal.”
However, another source said that Macron will battle on.
One friend said: “Macron is unhappy… but not more than that” adding Macron had told him he needed “warriors”.
Macron’s new Prime Minister Michel Barnier may only have been in his role since the start of September, but he’s already had to see off a no-confidence motion and he may be on the cusp of another one.
Mr Barnier, the EU’s former chief Brexit negotiator, was made French Prime Minister on September 5. But this sparked outrage among large sections of the country’s National Assembly. The 73-year-old is from the centre-right Republican party, which failed to get strong support in the summer’s election. Despite this, he was Mr Macron’s pick to lead the government.
Earlier this week, Mr Barnier presented his budget for next year, which includes drastic tax hikes and spending cuts. Mr Barnier has made proposals for almost £33.5bn of spending cuts and nearly £17bn in tax rises.
But it’s been met with outcry from the far-left New Popular Front – the largest bloc in the Assembly. To get it through he’ll need to hope the far-right and far-left don’t team up and vote against it.
The French PM has a few options to get his budget through, but if he’s too aggressive he may bring about a confidence motion. If he loses that, the government will fall.
