Macron halts senior appointments ahead of confidence vote

French President Emmanuel Macron has suspended the appointment of around 50 senior officials in the run-up to a parliamentary confidence vote in the government.

The appointments – ranging from key ministerial positions to departmental prefects – had already been approved by the Élysée Palace, Caliber.Az reports via French media.

However, at the final stage, when presidential endorsement was required, they were removed from the agenda of the latest weekly Cabinet meeting.

A Macron adviser explained that the president, facing the prospect of a likely government reshuffle, did not want the appointments to appear rushed or reactive.

Europe 1 notes that the Élysée has downplayed the move, describing it as a routine technical adjustment common during Cabinet preparation.

On August 25, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne announced that a confidence vote would be held in the National Assembly on September 8, citing the ongoing economic crisis, particularly the continued rise in public debt. 

“Every hour, France’s debt increases by €12 million,” she said. The Prime Minister also previously indicated that the government plans to refrain from raising pensions and other social benefits in 2026 in an effort to curb public debt growth.

By Aghakazim Guliyev