Article content continued

“A major change in our economy policy,” was what Montebourg had said was needed, just days after Hollande had expressly said there would be no change in the government’s economic direction.

The minister’s comments angered the Socialist leadership, which said Montebourg’s job was to support the government, not criticize it from within.

“He’s not there to start a debate but to put France back on the path of growth,” Carlos Da Silva, the Socialist Party spokesman, told the Le Figaro newspaper.

Montebourg represents the hard-left Socialist base, and his departure from the government is likely to anger many of the voters who brought Hollande to office in 2012. Since that time, France’s economy has only worsened, and the sense of impending crisis weighs heavily.

It’s not France’s job to align itself to the ideological axioms of Germany’s right wing

French officials have already made clear that the deficit will again surpass the EU’s 3% target and are negotiating a delay.

The new government is unlikely to include Montebourg or other left-wing Socialists and there will be no new election. Instead, led by Valls, the new Cabinet is expected to work toward smoother ties with the EU.

Montebourg’s criticism of austerity — and his pointed remarks about German Chancellor Angela Merkel — have rankled before.

In an interview last week after Germany’s economy also showed signs of stagnation, Montebourg said France’s neighbor had been “trapped by the policy of austerity.” He went on to say “when I say Germany, I mean the German right wing that supports Angela Merkel. It’s not France’s job to align itself to the ideological axioms of Germany’s right wing.”

Merkel on Monday declined to comment directly about France’s change in government but said she wishes “the French president success with his reform agenda.”