France's military chief resigsns over row with Macron France's military chief resigned on Wednesday after he was rebuked by President Emmanuel Macron for protesting defence spending cuts. The row between the president and De Villiers, 60, had blown up when the chief of the defence staff told a parliamentary committee he would not allow the armed forces to be "screwed" by plans to cut 850 million euros ($980 million) from the budget. In an address to members of the armed forces on the eve of Bastille Day, the president had replied "I am boss".