French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne resigned on Monday after less than two years on the new job in preparation for a highly anticipated reorganization.
The breaking news comes as President Emmanuel Macron seeks to revive his second term ahead of the European Parliament elections and the Paris Olympics. Ahead of the restructuring, Macron's third since his reelection in 2022, the French president postponed the first planned Cabinet meeting for 2024, causing speculation of an upcoming change in governance.
Borne is the second woman to serve as Prime minister of France after Edith Cresson. Macron did not immediately name Borne's successor. The change in prime minister comes as no surprise following a year flawed by political crises prompted by contested reforms of the pension system and immigration laws.
Politico noted, "In 2023, France was likely amongst the Western countries which, in spite of the context, led the most transformations," Macron said in his New Year address. "Some of these, like the pensions reform, were unpopular. I stand by them as they were necessary ... I would like to thank in particular the prime minister and her government."
Politico also reported that other leading left-leaning Cabinet members voiced their concerns as the government gave in to hard-line conservatives on points including limiting access to state benefits for recently arrived immigrants and reforming birthright citizenship. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen voted in favor of the bill.
According to Reuters, opinion polls in France show Macron's party trailing that of far-right leader Marine Le Pen by some eight to ten points ahead of the June vote.
Among those who are being considered as potential candidates to replace Borne are 34-year-old Education Minister Gabriel Attal and 37-year-old Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, either of whom would be France's youngest-ever prime minister. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and former agriculture minister Julien Denormandie have also been alluded to as potential options. However, the change in prime minister will not necessarily lead to a shift in political tack, but rather signal a desire to move beyond the pension and immigration reforms and focus on new priorities, such as hitting full employment, Reuters said.
The reshuffle is likely to intensify the race in Macron's camp to succeed him in the next presidential campaign in 2027. The French government, led by Borne, has grappled to deal with a more tumultuous parliament to pass laws since losing their absolute majority shortly after Macron was reelected for a second mandate in 2022. Advisers to Macron say he has managed to exceed the most difficult parts of his economic manifesto within the first year and a half of his second mandate. But Macron's decision to use executive powers last year to pass a contested increase in the pension age to 64 sparked weeks of civil unrest in the country.
According to the Independent, in a statement on social media platform X, the president said: "Madam Prime Minister, dear Elisabeth Borne, your work in the service of our Nation has been exemplary every day. You implemented our project with the courage, commitment, and determination of women of states. With all my heart, thank you."
Borne will stay on to handle current affairs until a new government is appointed.
