PARIS: Plans to buy a new presidential jet for France’s Emmanuel Macron (pictured) could be held up because of a controversy sparked by his prime minister, who hired a private plane for 350,000 euros ($416,000) to fly home from Japan.
Business paper La Tribune said news of Edouard Philippe’s costly Japan-to-Paris charter had come at a bad time, with Macron — who has campaigned against wasteful spending — about to decide on a new presidential plane. France’s equivalent of Air Force One is an old Airbus A330 that was bought second-hand 10 years ago and given a luxury refit for use by Nicolas Sarkozy.
At Macron’s office, an official played down the jet issue, saying a new purchase was being considered before he took office in May and that the government was waiting for a report on the matter before making a decision. “That will take a few weeks and when it’s done we will assess all options for improving travel arrangements for the president and government,” an Elysee official said. — Reuters
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
