Macro cuts military budget, resigns chief of staff

The clash with President Emmanuel Macron on budget cuts has brought the resignation of French Armed Forces Chief General Pierre de Villiers.

In the explanation statement, he says he could not guarantee with the life span of the military model, which he considered necessary for the country's defence. Last week the French government announced major spending cuts aimed at lowering the budget deficit below the EU's critical level.

Macro had made it clear that he would not tolerate any military disobedience. It is not dignified that certain debates are held in the public arena, Elise's chief said last week during a speech given at the defence ministry.

If the chief of staff and the president have different positions on a particular issue, the one leaving is Chief of Staff”, Macron said. He added, however, that the general had his full confidence as long as he knows the chain of command and knows how it works. What enraged 60-year-old De Villeers was cuts of 850m euros in the 2017 military spending budget.

Most of them touched the equipment. Macron wants to lower the country's total budget deficit for this year below the 3% of GDP, the criteria set for EU countries. Orders for new equipment will be postponed or cancelled, while the French Defence Ministry will also be required to shrink the cost of operations abroad.