Global Affairs

Macron's gamble to deal with a divided France

The removal of a popular prime minister masks political fissures on the ground, including 'town versus country' divisions found in other parts of Europe

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Most governments get dismissed when they are perceived to have performed badly and lose elections. And those who replace them are expected to have a broader popular appeal than their predecessors, as well as at least a sporting chance of governing better.

Not so in France, where Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who has run the administration for over three years and is by far the single most popular politician, has just been unceremoniously replaced by President Emmanuel Macron with a virtually unknown bureaucrat with no ministerial experience whatsoever.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 06, 2020, with the headline Macron's gamble to deal with a divided France. Subscribe