French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne submitted her resignation on Monday, the presidency said, as President Emmanuel Macron mulls a reshuffle to relaunch his second term.
Macron accepted her resignation, a presidential statement said. Writing on X, Macron thanked her for “work in the service of our nation that has been exemplary every day,” without explicitly mentioning her resignation.
The change in prime minister comes after a year marred by political crises triggered by contested reforms of the pension system and immigration laws.
It also comes just five months before European Parliament elections, with eurosceptics expected to make record gains at a time of widespread public discontent over surging living costs and the failure of European governments to curb migration flows.
In France, opinion polls show Macron’s party trailing that of far-right leader Marine Le Pen by some eight to ten points ahead of the June vote.
With three years left of his presidency, commentators have said an overhaul is necessary to revive his government’s political impetus after a series of protests over controversial policies and legislative defeats.
His government suffered a significant defeat on a key piece of immigration legislation in December, which was widely seen as a moment of crisis.
The law eventually passed after concessions were made to right-wing opposition groups but Mr Macron’s party is still expected to face a strong challenge in the European poll.
Ms Borne’s departure will be seen as the beginning of that overhaul, with several key figures in government tipped to replace her.
The 34-year-old education minister Gabriel Attal is considered the frontrunner for the job. He would become France’s youngest and first openly gay prime minister.
In the coming dawn of Tuesday, France will witness a significant transition in its political landscape as the country gears up for the appointment of a new Prime Minister. This crucial event ensues the resignation of the outgoing Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, a common tradition in French politics following the presidential elections. The reshaping of the political helm is a strategic move by the President to form a reinvigorated government and chart a renewed direction for the nation.
An Anticipated Change in Leadership
The impending appointment holds paramount importance as it will influence the country’s leadership and the execution of governmental policies. With the new Prime Minister tasked with the responsibility of implementing the President’s policy agenda and managing the day-to-day operations of the government, the selection process has been a hotbed of speculation.