Emmanuel Macron’s main speechwriter and top media
advisor is to leave the French president’s team at the end of the month,
he told AFP, citing family reasons.
was a key member of Emmanuel Macron’s campaign team from 2016 who helped
the 41-year-old plot his unexpected rise to presidential power
Sylvain Fort, an expert in opera
music who once ran his own PR agency, was a key member of Macron’s
campaign team from 2016 who helped the 41-year-old plot his unexpected
rise to power.
After Macron’s election in May 2017, Fort
joined the presidential staff as a speechwriter but took on more
responsibility as a media advisor in July after what was widely seen as a
bungled response to a scandal involving an ex-bodyguard.
“After
two and half years of non-stop work for the candidate and then our
president, I want to pursue other professional and personal projects,
and above all give more time to my family,” the 46-year-old said.
“Emmanuel Macron’s understanding of the state
and his complete commitment to France are what the country needs in
these moments of doubt on our collective destiny,” Fort added.
“I am proud to have served him and I assured him of my complete loyalty when I informed him of my decision several weeks ago.”
The resignation comes as Macron looks to turn
the page on a torrid six months that have seen his approval ratings
tumble to their lowest ever level.
In July, video emerged of his senior security advisor and one-time bodyguard roughing up protesters during a demonstration.
And from the end of November, so-called
“yellow vest” protests in rural France over tax hikes on transport fuel
mushroomed into a country-wide revolt over his policies and governing
style.
Macron is known to be an exacting boss, often
firing off messages late at night to his team, and the pace of his
reform-drive and foreign travels have left many staff feeling exhausted,
insiders say.