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WORLD NEWS Thursday 7 February 2019

Macron claws back support amid focus on yellow vest movement

By SYLVIE CORBET Lecerf noted that “the
Associated Press grand debate now takes
PARIS (AP) — French Presi- almost as much place
dent Emmanuel Macron as the yellow vests in the
appears to be clawing French media.”
back support as he tries to Frederic Dabi, deputy di-
quell the yellow vest protest rector general of Ifop,
movement with a national said the combination of
political debate. emergency measures and
Recent polls by Ifop, BVA the grand debate “give
and Harris Interactive insti- the impression that he’s
tutes show Macron’s ap- back in the game, and in
proval ratings rising — from the context of protests he
23 to 31 percent in Decem- appears as a protection
ber to 31 to 35 percent. against instability.” Macron
But Macron knows the re- is also meeting this week
bound could be fragile, with France’s main party,
saying recently he feels like including Wednesday with
he’s “walking on ice.” far-left leader Jean-Luc
Macron’s popularity Melenchon and head of
reached its lowest level af- far-right National Rally,
ter the anti-government, Marine Le Pen. The French
yellow vest protests broke In this Feb.4, 2019 file photo, French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a meeting with leader promised the grand
out in November —with mayors and local association members as part of the “national debate”, in Evry-Courcouronnes, debate outcomes will in-
many demonstrators call- south of Paris. fluence his domestic and
ing for his resignation. The Associated Press European policies. But he
protests reached their Le Journal du Dimanche and democratic issues. groups and elected offi- insisted planned reforms, in-
peak in early December recently revealed in a re- “These were first steps that cials as well as an internet cluding an overhaul of the
when the French capital port called “the ten days enabled some people to website where people can indebted pension system
was scene to rioting, shops when Emmanuel Macron be a bit less opposed to air their grievances. and of France’s relatively
and museums closed and trembled.” Macron, even if there was Over the last three weeks, generous unemployment
graffiti was sprayed over Macron has since an- no enthusiasm about the Macron has travelled benefits, are maintained.
the Arc de Triomphe monu- nounced a package of measures,” said Edouard across France to take part During a debate in Bourg
ment. The fear of further measures worth about 10 Lecerf, deputy general di- in several debates. Rolling- de Peage, a small town
violence became so acute billion euros ($11.4 billion) rector of the BVA polling up his shirt sleeves, standing in southeastern France, a
that Macron’s wife, Brigitte to boost workers’ and retir- institute. in the middle of crowds of man wearing a yellow jack-
Macron, and some presi- ees’ purchasing power and The three-month na- hundreds, he repeatedly et asked Macron to call
dential aides visited the launched a “grand de- tionwide consultation answered dozens of ques- new parliamentary elec-
nuclear-proof bunker, the bate” to let ordinary French launched in mid-January tions for six to seven straight tions. He refused, saying he
location of which remains people express their views involves a series of meet- hours, often broadcast live “has been elected by the
secret, French newspaper on the country’s economic ings organized by citizens, on French news channels. people.”q

Lebanon names 1st female Arab minister in charge of security

By SARAH EL DEEB years. As interior minister, the previous chamber.
Associated Press she will be in charge of Hariri’s party also named
BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s multiple, often competing Violette Safadi as state
new interior minister as- security agencies, and of minister and she successful-
sumed her post Wednes- maintaining stability in a ly campaigned to promptly
day, becoming her coun- country that has grappled rename her post from the
try’s and the Arab world’s with militant groups and ministry from women’s af-
first female official in limited spillover from the fairs to ministry for “women
charge of powerful security war in neighboring Syria. and youth empowerment.”
agencies. El Hassan said her priori- The post was previously
Raya El Hassan welcomed ties are to improve coop- held by a man.
the challenge, saying Leb- eration between agencies, May Chidiac, who lost her
anese Prime Minister Saad uphold human rights and arm and leg in an assas-
Hariri put his trust in her and improve Lebanon’s notori- sination attempt in a 2005
gave her “this big responsi- ous traffic problems. bombing, was named
bility.” Newly appointed Interior Minister Raya El Hassan listens to former “I will seek to have my own state minister for adminis-
“As the first female min- Lebanese Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk, at the interior very special touch,” build- trative development by the
ister of interior, I have to ministry in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. ing on the work done be- Christian Lebanese Forces
prove the woman’s ability Associated Press fore me, she added. group.
to assume an exceptional Washington University and lines. She chaired one of Lebanon has been making Nada Bustani, named en-
portfolio,” she said at the is a member of Hariri’s Fu- Lebanon’s major private an effort to improve rep- ergy and water minister,
handover ceremony from ture Movement Party, is public partnerships de- resentation of women in tweeted on Tuesday: “A
her predecessor who had one of four women in the signed to develop the port politics. In last year’s parlia- big part of the national
been in the post for five 30-member Cabinet — a city of Tripoli and in 2009, mentary election, the first in economic plans is the re-
years. record for female political she became the first Arab nine years, six women were sponsibility of this ministry
El Hassan, who holds a Mas- representation in Lebanon. woman finance minister elected to the 128-seat and we hope we are up to
ters’ degree from George El Hassan is used to head- — a post she kept for two parliament, up from four in it.”q