PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron held a special security meeting, spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and convened his Cabinet for the first time Thursday — all under a growing cloud of concern that his office is trying to control the press.
The new government, which was appointed Wednesday, is a carefully calibrated balance of 22 prominent and unknown figures from the left and the right, half of them women. They arrived for their first meeting Thursday with smiles, posing for photographs on the front porch of the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris.
After the meeting, Macron talked by phone with Putin about possible cooperation on international issues, including the fight against terrorism. The Kremlin said the two voiced readiness to develop their nations’ “traditionally friendly” economic, political and cultural ties.
Macron has previously taken a firm stance against Russia’s actions in Ukraine and Syria.
Macron also held a defense council meeting with the defense minister and the military chiefs to focus on security issues. France remains under a state of emergency, and under threat from Islamic extremists, since attacks in November 2015 left 130 people dead around Paris.
During the Cabinet meeting, Macron called on his ministers to have the “necessary discipline” and “solidarity” despite their sometimes stark political differences, government spokesman Christophe Castaner said. In keeping with Macron’s independent centrist line and his goal of reshaping French politics, his ministers include both Socialists and conservatives.
Castaner, a Socialist who joined Macron’s movement last year, said “our political background will not prevent us from working smartly for France.”
Meanwhile, tensions have arisen over Macron’s policies about media access, recalling similar conflicts over the coverage of Donald Trump’s presidency in the U.S.
Some French political reporters said Macron’s office called their offices to designate specific journalists who will be able to cover Macron’s first trip outside Europe, scheduled today.
In the past, French media would decide themselves who to send on presidential trips.
Castaner said he and the president are committed to letting journalists do their jobs.
