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François Hollande sacks environment minister François Hollande sacks environment minister
(3 months later)
François Hollande sacked his environment minister on Tuesday night after she publicly criticised budget cuts and accused the government of failing to put enough resources into green issues.François Hollande sacked his environment minister on Tuesday night after she publicly criticised budget cuts and accused the government of failing to put enough resources into green issues.
The shock firing of the Socialist Delphine Batho is the first time Hollande has ejected a minister for criticising his policies, despite the outspoken industry minister Arnaud Montebourg's previous public lambasting of the government's handling of factory and steel works closures.The shock firing of the Socialist Delphine Batho is the first time Hollande has ejected a minister for criticising his policies, despite the outspoken industry minister Arnaud Montebourg's previous public lambasting of the government's handling of factory and steel works closures.
The move highlighted the government's sensitivity over cash-strapped France's new austerity drive. The finance minister had announced earlier in the day that France must make budget savings of around 28 billion euros over the next two years to restore public finances.The move highlighted the government's sensitivity over cash-strapped France's new austerity drive. The finance minister had announced earlier in the day that France must make budget savings of around 28 billion euros over the next two years to restore public finances.
Batho, whose department was to be one of the worst hit with a 7% funding cut, immediately told a French radio station that it was a "bad budget". She said people felt "let down" by the government and the question must be asked whether the environment was a "priority" or not for those in power.Batho, whose department was to be one of the worst hit with a 7% funding cut, immediately told a French radio station that it was a "bad budget". She said people felt "let down" by the government and the question must be asked whether the environment was a "priority" or not for those in power.
The prime minister's office announced via Twitter that she had been summoned for talks. Shortly after, Batho was sacked.The prime minister's office announced via Twitter that she had been summoned for talks. Shortly after, Batho was sacked.
The swift sacking, designed to show that the cabinet will not tolerate any more public dissent and sniping over economic issues, may yet spark further tension in government over green issues. The stance of the Green party, which has two ministers in cabinet and has supported the Socialist administration in parliament, was being decided on Tuesday night.The swift sacking, designed to show that the cabinet will not tolerate any more public dissent and sniping over economic issues, may yet spark further tension in government over green issues. The stance of the Green party, which has two ministers in cabinet and has supported the Socialist administration in parliament, was being decided on Tuesday night.
The Green party was meeting to discuss its response, with early indications that it would stay in government but could demand proof that the cabinet was committed to environmental policy.The Green party was meeting to discuss its response, with early indications that it would stay in government but could demand proof that the cabinet was committed to environmental policy.
Meanwhile Portugal's prime minister said on Tuesday night he would not resign after his government was plunged into crisis by a second ministerial departure in as many days. In a televised address Pedro Passos Coelho said he would work for stability and had not accepted the resignation of the foreign minister, Paulo Portas, who quit saying he disagreed with Coelho's austerity programme.Meanwhile Portugal's prime minister said on Tuesday night he would not resign after his government was plunged into crisis by a second ministerial departure in as many days. In a televised address Pedro Passos Coelho said he would work for stability and had not accepted the resignation of the foreign minister, Paulo Portas, who quit saying he disagreed with Coelho's austerity programme.
It followed the departure on Monday of finance minister Vitor Gaspar, the architect of spending cuts and tax hikes imposed by foreign lenders.It followed the departure on Monday of finance minister Vitor Gaspar, the architect of spending cuts and tax hikes imposed by foreign lenders.
Portas's departure is more serious as it threatens the coalition government's stability and could upset the country's smooth exit from its €78bn international bailout. Portas heads the right-wing CDS-PP party and, without its support, the centre-right government would lose its majority in parliament.Portas's departure is more serious as it threatens the coalition government's stability and could upset the country's smooth exit from its €78bn international bailout. Portas heads the right-wing CDS-PP party and, without its support, the centre-right government would lose its majority in parliament.
Portas had been given the task of overseeing cuts after Gaspar quit. Portuguese bond prices fell sharply after his announcement, with the returns investors demand to hold 10-year bonds rising 35 basis points.Portas had been given the task of overseeing cuts after Gaspar quit. Portuguese bond prices fell sharply after his announcement, with the returns investors demand to hold 10-year bonds rising 35 basis points.
"It looks like the end-game for the government," said Antonio Costa Pinto, a political scientist. "There is a possibility of the government staying on in minority with conditional support from CDS-PP, but the opposition will demand a new election and the president will be in a difficult situation.""It looks like the end-game for the government," said Antonio Costa Pinto, a political scientist. "There is a possibility of the government staying on in minority with conditional support from CDS-PP, but the opposition will demand a new election and the president will be in a difficult situation."
Portugal is in its deepest recession since the 1970s but Lisbon has been hoping to exit the bailout programme by mid-2014.Portugal is in its deepest recession since the 1970s but Lisbon has been hoping to exit the bailout programme by mid-2014.
"The rug is being pulled out from under the Passos Coelho government and Portugal is now staring at the prospect of early elections," said Nicolas Spiro, managing director at Spiro Sovereign Strategy. "The back-to-back resignations throw the political opposition to reform in Portugal into sharp relief and pose serious questions about the country's ability to push ahead, let alone exit, its troubled bailout programme.""The rug is being pulled out from under the Passos Coelho government and Portugal is now staring at the prospect of early elections," said Nicolas Spiro, managing director at Spiro Sovereign Strategy. "The back-to-back resignations throw the political opposition to reform in Portugal into sharp relief and pose serious questions about the country's ability to push ahead, let alone exit, its troubled bailout programme."
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