PARIS — Emmanuel Macron has appointed 33-year-old David Amiel as France’s new budget minister, the French presidency announced on Sunday. This appointment comes at a key time as the French government faces a major political crisis while trying to manage its deficit.
Amiel succeeds Amélie de Montchalin, a close ally of Macron who was recently appointed head of France’s top court of auditors. This controversial decision has caused backlash, with accusations against the French president of politicizing an important institution.
Budgetary discussions have been challenging since the 2024 general election, resulting in a hung parliament. Previously, the French parliament removed two prime ministers before current leader Sébastien Lecornu, due to their budget plans.
In his initial statement in his new position, Amiel expressed his intention to ensure the proper implementation of the contentious 2026 budget, which was only officially passed last month. He also outlined goals such as better managing tax evasion and welfare fraud.
The current budget anticipates a deficit of 5 percent of France’s GDP for 2026, according to the government’s latest estimate. Prior to this role, Amiel spent three months as minister for France’s public sector, marking his first governmental position.
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