French sports minister resigns in latest blow to Macron

In this Sept. 15, 2017 file photo, French Sports Minister Laura Flessel speaks to the medias after a welcome ceremony for the French Olympic delegation at the Elysee Palace, in Paris.  AP

PARIS — France’s sports minister quit on Tuesday in the latest blow to President Emmanuel Macron’s government, just a week after the environment minister unexpectedly announced his resignation.

Laura Flessel, a double Olympic gold medalist in fencing who was France’s flag bearer at the 2012 London Games, said in a statement that she resigned “for personal reasons.” She said she made the decision after meeting with

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, and that she still supports Macron.

Flessel was replaced by Roxana Maracineanu, a former swimming world champion.

As sports minister, the 46-year-old Flessel was involved in France’s winning bid to host the 2024 Olympics and 2023 Rugby World Cup.

While former Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot lamented France’s slow pace of progress on green issues and his own lack of power to force change, Flessel said she will remain “a faithful teammate” of Macron. /ee