French military chief quits over budget dispute with Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Chief of the Defense Staff Gen. Pierre de Villiers, right, drive down the Champs Elysees avenue during Bastille Day parade in Paris, Friday, July 14, 2017. Paris has tightened security before its annual Bastille Day parade, which this year is being opened by American troops with President Donald Trump as the guest of honor to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War I. (Etienne Laurent, Pool via AP)

PARIS (AP) — France’s military chief has quit in a dispute with President Emmanuel Macron over budget cuts, a new challenge to Macron’s administration and his economic reforms.

The office of Gen. Pierre de Villiers, chief of staff of the armed forces, said he submitted his resignation to Macron at a security council meeting Wednesday. Macron’s office did not immediately comment.

De Villiers lashed out at new spending curbs during a closed-door parliamentary commission meeting last week, according to leaked reports.

Macron then publicly upbraided him, saying, “it is not dignified to air certain debates in the public sphere. I made commitments (to budget cuts). I am your boss.”

Macron has promised to boost defense spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2025 as part of France’s commitments to NATO, but his budget minister last week announced limits on this year’s military expenses.