Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 15:59:33
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.90 2.00%
  1. ICICI Bank share price
  2. 1,095.75 1.08%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,448.20 0.52%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 428.55 0.13%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 277.05 2.21%
Business News/ Politics / Policy/  French military chief, scolded by Macron, resigns over defence budget cuts
BackBack

French military chief, scolded by Macron, resigns over defence budget cuts

General Pierre de Villiers says he no longer felt able to command the sort of armed forces that he thinks is necessary to guarantee the protection of French people

The row between Emmanuel Macron and De Villiers blew up last week when the chief of the defence staff told a parliamentary committee he would not allow the armed forces to be ’screwed' by plans to cut $980 million from the budget. Photo: APPremium
The row between Emmanuel Macron and De Villiers blew up last week when the chief of the defence staff told a parliamentary committee he would not allow the armed forces to be ’screwed' by plans to cut $980 million from the budget. Photo: AP

Paris: France’s military chief resigned on Thursday after he was rebuked by President Emmanuel Macron for protesting defence spending cuts.

General Pierre de Villiers, said in a statement he no longer felt able to command the sort of armed forces “that I think is necessary to guarantee the protection of France and the French people".

The row between the president and De Villiers, 60, blew up last week when the chief of the defence staff told a parliamentary committee he would not allow the armed forces to be “screwed" by plans to cut €850 million ($980 million) from the budget.

Macron replied later that “I am the boss", adding in a newspaper interview at the weekend that if there was a difference of opinion, “it is the chief of the defence staff who will change his position".

De Villiers said Thursday that throughout his career, he had believed it was his duty to tell politicians “of my reservations". The row has provoked a debate about whether 39-year-old Macron had humiliated his military chief or whether he had no choice but to exert his authority just two months into his presidency.

Macron, a centrist, won the presidency in May by defeating far-right rival Marine Le Pen.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Politics News and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
More Less
Published: 19 Jul 2017, 06:16 PM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App