French interior minister sacked after backlash over handling of anti-racism protests

French President Emmanuel Macron ousted his interior minister as part of a government shakeup Monday after protests against police brutality.

The reshuffle is aimed at shifting the government's focus to post-virus economic recovery in the last two years of Mr Macron's term. On Friday he announced Jean Castex, who had crafted the plan for the country to emerge from lockdown, would take on the role of Prime Minister from widely praised predeccesor Edouarde Philippe.

Former budget minister Gerald Darmanin was named to replace Christophe Castaner, who had come under fire amid widespread French protests against racial injustice and police brutality spurred by the death of George Floyd in the US.

Mr Castaner announced a ban on police chokeholds in response, but then backed down in the face of counter-demonstrations and pressure by police unions. He also launched an experiment with expanded Taser use.

Mr Macron replaced the ecology minister, a top priority for his presidency, but did not change the finance or health ministers, central to helping France through the virus crisis and recession, or the foreign and defense ministers.

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