{"id":9718,"date":"2018-08-29T13:42:31","date_gmt":"2018-08-29T20:42:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=9718"},"modified":"2018-08-29T13:42:31","modified_gmt":"2018-08-29T20:42:31","slug":"french-minister-nicolas-hulot-resigns-on-live-radio-in-frustration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=9718","title":{"rendered":"French minister Nicolas Hulot resigns on live radio in frustration"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"EmmanuelImage copyright<\/span>AFP<\/span><\/span>
Image caption<\/span>Mr Hulot’s (R) resignation is seen as a major blow to Mr Macron<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

French Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot has resigned on live radio, in a dramatic announcement that caught even President Emmanuel Macron by surprise.<\/p>\n

The former TV presenter and green activist said he had quit after a series of disappointments in attempts to address climate change and other environmental threats.<\/p>\n

Mr Hulot said he felt “all alone” in government.<\/p>\n

The decision was taken on the spot and, he added, even his wife did not know.<\/p>\n

“I am going to take… the most difficult decision of my life,” the minister said in an interview on France Inter radio.<\/p>\n

“I am taking the decision to leave the government.”<\/p>\n

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Skip Twitter post by @franceinter<\/a><\/p>\n
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Nicolas Hulot : “Je prends la d\u00e9cision de quitter le gouvernement”\u00a0#le79inter<\/a>\u00a0cc\u00a0@leasalame<\/a>\u00a0@ndemorand<\/a>pic.twitter.com\/MhRq7zEktM<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 France Inter (@franceinter)\u00a0August 28, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Report<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

End of Twitter post by @franceinter<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"Presentational<\/span><\/figure>\n

Mr Hulot said that he had not told Mr Macron or Prime Minister Edouard Philippe of his decision, because he believed they would try to talk him out of it.<\/p>\n

Mr Hulot is a popular figure in France, and correspondents say his departure is a major blow to Mr Macron, whose ratings are currently poor.<\/p>\n

Mr Macron responded to the news by saying he respected Mr Hulot’s decision, adding that he hoped to be able to count on his support “in another form”.<\/p>\n

Government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said he regretted Mr Hulot’s resignation.<\/p>\n

“I don’t understand why he is stepping down when we had many successes in the first year that are to his credit,” he told BFM TV.<\/p>\n