Manuel Valls is no longer mincing words. Invited on Radio J, the former Prime Minister (who was still Minister for Overseas Territories just a few weeks ago) delivered a scathing assessment of the second five-year term of...Emmanuel Macronwhich he now describes as a "shipwreck". This criticism, coming from within, is further proof of the unease that has been running through the presidential camp since the dissolution and collapse of government authority.
The former minister points out that Emmanuel Macron's re-election in 2022 should have ushered in a new era of stability. Instead, he argues, the country has descended into a "regime crisis" fueled by an "incomprehensible" dissolution of parliament, which has weakened institutions and plunged political life into lasting uncertainty. According to him, this presidential decision is "a mistake for which he is paying the price, but for which we are all paying."
Abruptly dismissed from the Ministry for Overseas Territories during the latest cabinet reshuffle, Valls expressed his "anger" at a dismissal he deemed unjustified, recalling that his work (particularly in New Caledonia) had been "recognized." He even raised several possibilities, suggesting that his success in sensitive matters or his stances, notably on the recognition of the State of Palestine, may have displeased the President and his inner circle.
By directly attacking the head of state, Manuel Valls confirms the extent of the rift within Macron's waning influence. According to him, Emmanuel Macron has not only lost control of his second term, but has also plunged France into dangerous instability, which the executive branch is struggling to conceal. This harsh criticism is all the more significant coming from a man who, until recently, still held a seat on the Council of Ministers.
