France’s interior minister refuses to quit despite tensions with President Macron

France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has dismissed the idea of resigning from the government, despite a reported clash with President Emmanuel Macron over recent remarks made in a controversial interview.

The dispute surfaced after Macron criticised Retailleau during a closed-door session of the Council of Ministers on July 23, Caliber.Az reports per French media.

The President reportedly took issue with comments Retailleau made in Valeurs Actuelles, a conservative magazine, in which he appeared to challenge the President’s leadership and direction.

Speaking on July 24 during a visit to a police station, Retailleau sought to play down speculation about his political future.

“So long as the government’s decisions are in line with the national interest and with my own convictions, there’s no reason for me to leave,” the minister said. “But I will not renounce my principles.”

Despite the tension, Retailleau insisted his position was not under threat and reaffirmed his commitment to public service.

The minister, who has gained prominence for his tough stance on law and order, has at times appeared out of step with Macron’s broader political positioning.

To recall, Retailleau has publicly distanced himself from President Emmanuel Macron, hinting at a potential bid for the 2027 presidential election.

In a recent interview with Valeurs Actuelles, Retailleau criticised Macron’s political legacy, dismissing "Macronism" as an ideology focused solely on the president rather than broader principles.

Although not officially a candidate, his remarks highlight the mounting political manoeuvring less than two years before Macron’s term concludes, as a crowded field of successors begins to take shape.

A conservative and recent leader of the right-wing Republicans party, Retailleau is positioning himself as a firm advocate on issues such as crime and immigration. Notably, a July Ipsos poll shows him enjoying a higher approval rating (36%) than Macron (24%).

His comments have sparked criticism from Macron’s allies, including former Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, who defended Macronism as a genuine political ideology.

By Aghakazim Guliyev