Blow to Macron as French interior minister quits
Gerard Collomb insisted he wanted to leave to be able to run for mayor of Lyon in 2020.
French prime minister Edouard Philippe has assumed responsibility for France’s domestic security after the interior minister resigned in an apparent act of defiance towards President Emmanuel Macron.
In a cold handover ceremony, Mr Philippe said his main focus would be to ensure “the highest security level” in the country.
Mr Philippe is in charge until Gerard Collomb’s successor is appointed.
Mr Collomb insisted he wanted to leave to be able to run for mayor of the city of Lyon in 2020.
The 71-year-old was one of Mr Macron’s closest political allies.
His decision comes amid a string of bad news events for the French president, who has reached record low popularity in polls since his election in May 2017.
