Paris: France was thrown into fresh crisis on Monday after President Francois Hollande told his prime minister to form a new government, following a high-profile show of insubordination by the country’s firebrand economy minister.
It is the second reshuffle in just five months as the ruling Socialists struggle to pull France out of the economic doldrums and the party is riven by infighting over what direction to take to reduce sky-high unemployment and boost sorely-needed growth.
The move caught France by surprise as Opposition pointed to a major crisis of confidence at the heart of the unpopular executive, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen even calling for the lower house National Assembly to be dissolved. A presidency statement said Prime Minister Manuel Valls offered resignation of his government and the new line-up would be announced on Tuesday.
