France’s Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, is bailing out after less than two years on the job as President Emmanuel Macron is gearing up for a shake-up before the upcoming European elections.
Macron gave Borne credit for her time in office, praising her “courage, commitment, and determination” in a statement.
We don’t know who’s stepping into Borne’s shoes yet.
She’ll hang on until a replacement takes over, according to the Élysée Palace.
Borne, the second female prime minister and the longest-serving, outlasted Édith Cresson’s brief stint back in the early ’90s.
Rumors of a government makeover have been buzzing lately as Macron tries to up his political game for the upcoming elections and the Olympic Games in France this year.
With three years left in his presidency, a revamp seems necessary after facing protests and legislative setbacks.
Macron’s government took a hit on immigration legislation in December but managed to push it through with some concessions.
Still, his party is in for a tough ride in the European poll. Borne’s exit marks the start of the overhaul, with a few potential contenders in the mix.
Education minister Gabriel Attal, a 34-year-old, is reportedly front-runner, and could make history as France’s youngest and first openly gay prime minister.
Other possible candidates include armed forces minister Sebastien Lecornu and former agriculture minister Julien Denormandie.
The official word on the new prime minister won’t drop until Tuesday, says the Élysée Palace spokesperson.
The PM in France handles day-to-day government business and heads the Council of Ministers.
Macron’s party lost its parliamentary majority in 2022, so the new prime minister faces an uphill battle turning the President’s plans into law.
Once appointed, this will be the fourth prime minister since Macron took office in 2017.
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Image: Par Jacques Paquier — Elisabeth Borne, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79426040
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