Hollande appoints core allies to push through pro-business platform President François Hollande appointed a new government of core allies to push through his pro-business platform, betting he can pass laws without representatives from the rebellious left of his Socialist majority. The French leader kept tough-talking Manuel Valls as prime minister and lifelong friend Michel Sapin as finance minister. Hollande promoted only loyal supporters, such as former adviser and Rothschild investment banker Emmanuel Macron, who was named economy minister. The snap reshuffle of a cabinet Hollande appointed less than six months ago comes after ministers from the left of the Socialist Party accused the president over the weekend of inflicting damaging austerity on the euro zone’s second-largest economy, even as it is mired in stagnation. The critics, led by outgoing Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg, were cast aside. Hollande is hoping that clarifying his economic line at home will strengthen his voice on the European scene. The French president has been quietly lobbying to tone down the German-inspired austerity implemented across much of the euro zone after the sovereign-debt crisis. Montebourg endangered that strategy with frontal attacks on Germany policy and Chancellor Angela Merkel in particular. But Hollande’s decision to evict rebels from his government could throw France into a political impasse. The bold move risks widening the rift between the president and elements of his ruling coalition ahead of key budget votes. The government will take the conflict to the brink in the coming weeks when Valls seeks a fresh confidence vote from lawmakers.Source