Macron is finding out what power sharing means and he doesn’t like it

(Bloomberg) — Emmanuel Macron’s weakened authority in France’s power-sharing government appears to be taking its toll.

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Macron’s tirade against his ministers, journalists and political commentators, accusing them of a “lack of professionalism” for leaking statements about Israel, cast the French president in an uncharacteristic light this week.

“I was astonished to read so many comments, comments upon comments, reactions, including from political leaders, foreign or French, to my statements, without people trying to find out what exactly I had said,” a visibly annoyed Macron said Reporters after an EU summit.

Thursday night’s outburst revealed Macron’s deep frustration on the domestic political stage, including the suggestion that he cannot trust his own ministers. The president lost his parliamentary majority in an election he called this summer after far-right leader Marine Le Pen trounced Macron’s centrists in the European Parliament vote.

“I talk about the situation in the Middle East often enough that I don’t need a ventriloquist,” Macron said on Thursday. Although he did not dispute the statements about Israel, he said they were misrepresented.

The controversy began after Macron reportedly said at a cabinet meeting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should not forget that Israel was created by a United Nations decision.

The comment, quoted by French media, angered Netanyahu and sparked criticism from a Jewish community group and some politicians.

Senate President Gerard Larcher, a conservative, said he was “astonished” by the comments and Macron’s “ignorance” of history. A lawmaker from Macron’s party, whose voters include French citizens in Israel, suggested that Macron was questioning the country’s existence.

Israel declared independence in 1948 following a partition plan approved by the United Nations six months earlier that called for Palestine to be divided between Jews and Arabs.

Macron on Thursday strongly reiterated his support for Israel while saying France has the right and duty not to always agree with Netanyahu. He criticized countries that call for a ceasefire in Gaza but continue to supply weapons to Israel.

He also threatened to stop holding press conferences if he was quoted against his will and said reporters would only be allowed to quote his public statements.

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Macron’s decision to call early elections led to a two-month dispute with the French left over the appointment of a prime minister, which ended with the appointment of the conservative Michel Barnier.

Barnier, an experienced politician and the European Union’s Brexit negotiator, has made it clear that he wants to go his own way.

On Thursday, he traveled to Brussels as Macron – it is rare for French leaders to be abroad at the same time – to attend a meeting of the EU’s conservative party group. It was a signal that European policy is a shared domain of the President and the Prime Minister.

The election result has forced Macron to hold back on domestic issues after reaching a power-sharing agreement with more conservative forces, including Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, the toughest member of the government. Two cabinet members have threatened to resign over budget demands.

France’s 2025 budget could be the next flashpoint as opposition parties could topple Barnier’s government if they join forces in a vote of no confidence – which would give Le Pen’s National Assembly the power to topple the government.

The National Rally’s fiscal wish list includes taxing super dividends and share buybacks, increasing pressure on Barnier. National Assembly member Jean-Philippe Tanguy said Wednesday that his party would refrain from a confidence motion as long as the government does more to reduce debt and improve what he called “fiscal fairness.”

– With support from Galit Altstein.

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