French government resigns amid feud over direction of the economy

French President Francois Hollande is dissolving the government after an open feud in Cabinet over the country’s economy. Prime Minister Manuel Valls offered up his Socialist government’s resignation today after accusing his economy minister of crossing a line with open criticism of the government’s policies. Hollande accepted the resignation and ordered Valls to form a new government by Tuesday.

He’s [Arnaud Montebourg] not there to start a debate but to put France back on the path of growth.

Carlos Da Silva, Socialist Party spokesman, reported in Le Figaro newspaper.

France has had effectively no economic growth this year and Hollande’s approval ratings are in the teens. The country is under pressure from the European Union to get its finances in order, but Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg has questioned whether the austerity pressed by the EU will kick-start French growth. He said “a major change in our economy policy” was needed from the president and prime minister. That drew the anger of the Socialist leadership, which said his job was to support the government, not criticise it from within.

Europe Manuel Valls