French reshuffle after poll rout
- 10 years ago
French President Francois Hollande named his new prime minister within hours of local election results that gave his Socialist party a hammering.
In comes centrist Interior Minister Manuel Valls, known for his pro-business ideas and dashing style.
Out goes Jean-Marc Ayrault, whose government was accused of amateurism and paralysing policy splits.
The poll saw the Socialists lose control of more than 150 towns to the centre-right UMP and 11 to the far right National Front.
There was also a record number of abstentions.
Dominique Moisi of the French Institute for International Relations says it's a clear message to Hollande and his party.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) DOMINIQUE MOISI, SENIOR ADVISOR AT FRENCH INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, SAYING:
"It was a debacle as the left itself called the result of the election and it proved a rejection of the president, a rejection of the government, a rejection of his policy, it combines the personal and t
In comes centrist Interior Minister Manuel Valls, known for his pro-business ideas and dashing style.
Out goes Jean-Marc Ayrault, whose government was accused of amateurism and paralysing policy splits.
The poll saw the Socialists lose control of more than 150 towns to the centre-right UMP and 11 to the far right National Front.
There was also a record number of abstentions.
Dominique Moisi of the French Institute for International Relations says it's a clear message to Hollande and his party.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) DOMINIQUE MOISI, SENIOR ADVISOR AT FRENCH INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, SAYING:
"It was a debacle as the left itself called the result of the election and it proved a rejection of the president, a rejection of the government, a rejection of his policy, it combines the personal and t