Prime minister Bernard Cazeneuve on Tuesday pledged to “protect French people” in his first speech to France’s National Assembly, defending President François Hollande and directly challenging conservative lawmakers, reports FRANCE 24.
Cazeneuve delivered a fiery speech in which he admitted he had precious few months to serve as the new prime minister. He adopted a combative tone against critics of the country’s Socialist government and promised to “make every day count”.
“We can reform without injuring, we can modernise without destroying,” Cazeneuve said, directly challenging conservative presidential nominee François Fillon, who has said he will massively scale back the number of civil servants and deregulate the economy.
“How can you protect French people by firing policemen… doctors… teachers?” he said, raising his voice over heckling opposition MPs.
Cazeneuve was appointed France’s prime minister on December 6, allowing former prime minister Manuel Valls to launch a bid for the Elysée Palace next year. France will hold a two-round presidential election on April 23 and May 7, 2017.
Cazenueve was widely praised as France’s interior minister, leading a calm yet efficient fight against jihadist networks in the wake of last year’s terrorist attacks in and around Paris.