Emmanuel Macron's party named a new leader Saturday as the French president faces the first rebellious grumblings in the 19-month-old movement that swept him to power. Christophe Castaner, a smooth-talking, ultra-loyal government spokesman, takes the helm of Republic on the Move (LREM) six months after Macron won the presidency in a sensational upset for French politics. Macron's handpicked favourite, Castaner is a former Socialist MP who joined the 39-year-old's centrist, pro-European campaign early in his run for presidency.
"It's not a dream, it's not an ambition, it's a chance, an honour, it's a duty," Castaner said, as he promised not to be "the leader of the movement", but an "organiser, a facilitator". Castaner, 51, was elected unopposed via a show of hands at LREM's party congress in the eastern city of Lyon, to the irritation of some grassroots members of what Macron called a "citizens' movement". The new party chief - who admitted he had not been "dreaming" of the unpaid job - struck a humble tone as he accepted a three-year term, telling party members: "Your vote gives me no rights, only responsibilities."
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