French economy chief Macron, eyeing presidential bid, quits

Macron announced his resignation to his staff on Tuesday afternoon after informing President Francois Hollande Monday morning.

FILE – In this July 12, 2016 file photo, French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron, center right, delivers a speech during a political rally for his movement, En Marche!

Once a member of the ruling Socialist Party, Macron created his own political movement En Marche (On the Move) in April, which he described as leaning neither left nor right.

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.

About 37 percent of voters say they have a “positive” view of Macron, with only former Prime Minister Alain Juppe ahead at 44 percent, according to an Elabe poll published August 4.

Critics in Hollande’s Socialist Party say Macron has betrayed left wing ideals by pushing France toward an American-style business model with laws loosening labor rules.

Mr Macron, 38, argues that France needs change to stay competitive internationally. He has never held elected office.

The second-most popular politician in the country has kept France on tenterhooks about a potential bid for the presidency since April.

“Emmanuel Macron. today handed in to the president of the Republic his resignation from the government to fully devote himself to his political party”, President Francois Hollande’s office said in a statement.

Macron has been praised by liberals for attacking key pillars of French Socialism such as the 35-hour work week.

Responding to criticism from within the Socialist Party a year ago, he said: “If approval was a criterion in this country, nothing would ever get done”. Then a relative unknown, he went on to introduce reforms such as allowing shops to open more often on Sundays.

Macron strongly hinted at a presidential run last month, prompting a reprimand from Hollande, who threatened to sack him unless he respected the “solidarity” of the Socialist government he joined in 2014.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development forecasts France economy to expand 1.4 percent this year. He has vowed not to seek re-election should he fail to rein-in the high unemployment rate, which is around 10 percent.