French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on Monday submitted her resignation to President Emmanuel Macron who looks to inject fresh momentum into his second term ahead of the European Parliament elections and the Paris Olympics. According to news agency Reuters, Macron, at the time of Borne’s resignation, refrained from announcing an immediate successor, leaving suspense over her successor. The change in leadership arrives just five months before the European Parliament elections, during which eurosceptics are anticipated to make significant gains amid widespread public discontent over rising living costs and perceived governmental failures in managing migration, Reuters’ report mentioned.
As per the report, the opinion polls in France reveal a challenging scenario for Macron’s party, trailing far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s party by eight to ten points ahead of the crucial June vote. The recent narrow approval of stringent immigration rules in the French parliament exposed deep divisions within Macron’s centrist majority, prompting speculation of an impending government reshuffle.
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“Ms Elisabeth Borne today submitted the resignation of the government to the president, who accepted it,” the presidency’s statement read, as per news agency AFP.
On X, Macron thanked Borne for “work in the service of our nation that has been exemplary every day”.
Speculation Over Next France PM
Potential candidates for the prime ministerial role include 34-year-old Education Minister Gabriel Attal, 37-year-old Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, and former agriculture minister Julien Denormandie. If selected, Attal or Lecornu would become the youngest-ever prime minister in France, Reuters reported.
The reshuffle is perceived as an opportunity for Macron to redefine priorities and move beyond the contentious pension and immigration reforms. Analysts suggest a focus on achieving full employment and addressing pressing issues like education and euthanasia, the report stated.
Elisabeth Borne, a 62-year-old career bureaucrat who had served under numerous Socialist Party ministers before joining Macron’s government, held the position of prime minister since May 2022. She was only the second woman to occupy this role in France.
French President Macron and his government, under Borne’s leadership, faced challenges in navigating a more turbulent parliament following the loss of their absolute majority. Despite this, Macron’s advisers assert that significant parts of his economic manifesto were successfully implemented in the first year and a half of his second term. Future reforms, particularly in education and euthanasia, are expected to take a more consensual approach, the report mentioned.
The reshuffle is anticipated to intensify speculation regarding potential candidates within Macron’s camp for the next presidential election in 2027. Former prime minister Edouard Philippe, Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin, and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire are all viewed as potential contenders, according to Reuters.
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