French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne resigns as Macron seeks boost ahead of European elections
Kim Willsher
The French Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borneresigned Monday after days of increasingly feverish speculation about an imminent government reshuffle.
President Emmanuel Macron, who is seeking to inject new momentum into his second term ahead of European elections and the Paris Olympics this summer, thanked Borne for his “exemplary work in the service of the nation”.
In his resignation letter, Borne said it was “more necessary than ever to continue the reforms” carried out by the government.
“I wanted to tell you how much this mission excites me,” she wrote, adding that she was “guided by the constant concern, which we share, to obtain rapid and tangible results for our fellow citizens”.
She nevertheless clarified that the decision to leave was not hers and that she had taken note of the president’s wish to appoint a new prime minister.
In the French system, the president appoints the prime minister but cannot remove him from office. Instead, they should ask for their resignation.
The reshuffle comes five months before European Parliament elections, with Eurosceptics expected to make record gains at a time of widespread public discontent over the rising cost of living and the failure of European governments to curb immigration.
Opinion polls show Macron’s party trailing that of far-right leader Marine Le Pen by eight to 10 points ahead of the June vote.
Read the full story here.
Key events
German farmers demonstrate for the second day
Meanwhile in Germany: some farmers continue to protest for a second day.
German farmers blocked city centers and highways yesterday over planned cuts in subsidies to the agricultural sector.
We are still waiting for the announcement in Paris of the name of the next French Prime Minister.
Stay tuned …
Who is Gabriel Attal?
The Minister of Education, considered one of the main candidates to become the next French Prime Minister, was born in 1989 in Hauts-de-Seine.
The politician has previously held various positions, including government spokesperson and minister of public accounts.
Early in his career, Attal was a member of the Socialist Party, but later joined Emmanuel Macrontoday’s centrist party known as the Renaissance.
If chosen for the role, Attal would be France’s youngest prime minister and the first openly gay.
The French Socialist Party Olivier Fauré declared this morning on France Inter that Gabriel Attal was brilliant at communications, but that if the Minister of Education became Prime Minister, he expected the same thing.
“Gabriel Attal is a brilliant young man in communication, but he is a minister with no record anywhere!”
For the first secretary of the Socialist Party @faureolivierif the Minister of Education was appointed to Matignon, “it will be the same policy”. #le710inter pic.twitter.com/lOmyuWIdiy
– France Inter (@franceinter) January 9, 2024
The new French Prime Minister has not yet been named, but criticism of the French president, Emmanuel Macronare already wondering about his possible choice of Minister of Education, aged 34, Gabriel Attal.
François-Xavier BellamyMEP representing Les Républicains, said Attal had not yet had time to accomplish much in his current role.
New French Prime Minister to be named today: reports
A new French prime minister is expected to be named later this morning, according to French media.
The move comes after Elisabeth Borne resigned yesterday.
The name most cited as a possible successor is 34 years old. Gabriel Attalthe Minister of Education.
French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne resigns as Macron seeks boost ahead of European elections
Kim Willsher
The French Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borneresigned Monday after days of increasingly feverish speculation about an imminent government reshuffle.
President Emmanuel Macron, who is seeking to inject new momentum into his second term ahead of European elections and the Paris Olympics this summer, thanked Borne for his “exemplary work in the service of the nation”.
In his resignation letter, Borne said it was “more necessary than ever to continue the reforms” carried out by the government.
“I wanted to tell you how much this mission excites me,” she wrote, adding that she was “guided by the constant concern, which we share, to obtain rapid and tangible results for our fellow citizens”.
She nevertheless clarified that the decision to leave was not hers and that she had taken note of the president’s wish to appoint a new prime minister.
In the French system, the president appoints the prime minister but cannot remove him from office. Instead, they should ask for their resignation.
The reshuffle comes five months before European Parliament elections, with Eurosceptics expected to make record gains at a time of widespread public discontent over the rising cost of living and the failure of European governments to curb immigration.
Opinion polls show Macron’s party trailing that of far-right leader Marine Le Pen by eight to 10 points ahead of the June vote.
Read the full story here.
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