Can Macron turn things around with new cabinet?

After the scandal involving Emmanuel Macron's former bodyguard Alexandre Benalla and the resignation of several ministers including Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot and Interior Minister Gérard Collomb, the latest cabinet shuffle is meant to mark a fresh start. But the shake-up is a flop, commentators explain after the new cabinet was announced on Tuesday.

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Politis (FR) /

President can't find new ministers

There's not a single known face among the new ministers, writes Michel Soudais in disappointment on the website of weekly paper Politis:

“Much ado about nothing. After two weeks of discussions and hypotheses, the Elysée announced the new cabinet on Tuesday morning with a simple communiqué. ... So there is nothing to be expected from this game of musical chairs which accomplished little more than showing how difficult it is for Emmanuel Macron and Édouard Philippe to put together a team to pursue policies that are increasingly unpopular. Several of those who were approached publicly announced their refusal to rally around this government.”

Tages-Anzeiger (CH) /

Macron's golden era is over

The new government does not embody the new start Macron had hoped for, the Tages-Anzeiger concludes:

“After two weeks of searching it's now clear: Macron couldn't find anyone else. His new government is now even further from it's promise of reconciling the right and the left. Macron's recruitment attempts among the Socialists have failed: none of them believes anymore that the president is serious about fighting poverty and hardship. The government is calling itself new, but it does not embody a new start. Rather it confirms the trend we've seen since the summer: Macron's golden era is over.”