French President Francois Hollande asked his prime minister yesterday to form a new government, looking to impose his will on the cabinet after rebel leftist ministers had called for an economic policy U-turn. The surprise move came the day after outspoken Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg had condemned what he called fiscal “austerity” and attacked euro zone powerhouse Germany’s “obsession” with budgetary rigour.
The new cabinet will be announced today and there was no immediate word on who would stay and who would go.