Nervous French Socialists Take on Free-Market Cheerleader Macron
- Economy Minister Seeks End to Jobs-For-Life in Government
- Hollande's Socialist Party Faces Rout in Regional Elections
Emmanuel Macron, France's economy minister.
Photographer: Marlene Awaad/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Faced with a looming defeat in regional elections, France’s Socialists are turning on one of their own.
That’s what Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron is finding out as he casually drops suggestions on how to kick-start French growth after three years of stagnation. Having orchestrated tax cuts for business, kept more stores open on Sundays and helped make labor laws more flexible, the former Rothschild banker last month suggested dropping France’s 35-hour work-week law and now wants to end the job-for-life guarantee given to French civil servants.