The Japan Times - France's Macron taps ex-aide to head central bank

Opponents claim the centrist head of state is trying to dominate government institutions by putting allies in key postings before his five-year term ends next year.

The far right is preparing for what it views as its best chance yet at seizing power in the upcoming presidential elections.

"The president is considering, on the proposal of the prime minister, appointing Emmanuel Moulin as governor of the Bank of France," the Elysee said.

Moulin, 57, was replaced last week after a year as chief of staff.

He was before that chief of staff to centrist Gabriel Attal during his brief stint as prime minister in 2024, after holding a key post at the finance ministry for several years.

Moulin will need to convince finance committees in the upper and lower houses of parliament not to veto his appointment.

Eric Coquerel, the hard-left head of the finance committee in the lower house, said he would be voting against the nomination of Moulin to head an institution supposed to be independent.

Moulin's career "almost guarantees the opposite, namely a dependence on the current executive branch and obvious risks in terms of neutrality", he said.

If appointed, Moulin would succeed Francois Villeroy de Galhau, who has said he would step down in June, a year and a half ahead of the end of his six-year term. Moulin would remain in the post for the stretch of the next president's mandate.

Macron has already appointed another loyalist, Richard Ferrand, to head the country's highest constitutional authority.

Former public accounts minister Amelie de Montchalin in February became the country's top auditor, after criticism she could not critique a budget that she was involved in drafting.

Y.Kimura--JT