French president Macron poised to name new prime minister
Resignation of Elisabeth Borne comes as Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party trails far Right in run-up to EU parliament elections
09 January 2024 - 11:47
by Agency Staff
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French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to the French Bakery and Pastry Federation members, during the presentation of the Epiphany cake at the Elysee Palace, Paris on 5 January 2024. File Picture: TERESA SUAREZ via REUTERS
Paris — French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to appoint a new prime minister on Tuesday as he seeks to boost his second mandate ahead of European parliament elections.
The move won’t necessarily lead to any major political shift but rather signals a desire for Macron to try to move beyond last year’s unpopular pension and immigration reforms by focusing on new priorities, including reaching full employment.
The new prime minister will also be tasked with trying to improve Macron’s centrist party’s chances in the June EU elections. Opinion polls show them trailing far-Right leader Marine Le Pen by about eight to 10 percentage points.
Macron, who has struggled to deal with a more turbulent parliament since losing his absolute majority shortly after being re-elected in 2022, announced on Monday that Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne was resigning.
Education minister Gabriel Attal, a close Macron ally who became a household name after being appointed government spokesperson during the Covid pandemic, was widely cited by political sources and French media as a strong favourite to replace Borne.
If that is confirmed, Attal would, at 34, become France's youngest prime minister, and the first to be openly gay.
Once a member of France’s socialist party before joining Macron, Attal was a junior finance minister and became education minister in 2023, making a name for himself as one of Macron’s most savvy ministers, at ease on radio shows and in parliament.
“If it is indeed Gabriel Attal, it was the best card the president could play,” Ifop pollster Jerome Fourquet told BFM TV, pointing to his popularity, which he said Attal gained thanks to taking quick action as education minister, and through his communication skills.
Opposition leaders were quick to say they didn’t expect much from the change in prime minister.
“Elisabeth Borne, Gabriel Attal or someone else, I don’t care, it will just be the same policies,” Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure told France Inter radio.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
French president Macron poised to name new prime minister
Resignation of Elisabeth Borne comes as Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party trails far Right in run-up to EU parliament elections
Paris — French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to appoint a new prime minister on Tuesday as he seeks to boost his second mandate ahead of European parliament elections.
The move won’t necessarily lead to any major political shift but rather signals a desire for Macron to try to move beyond last year’s unpopular pension and immigration reforms by focusing on new priorities, including reaching full employment.
The new prime minister will also be tasked with trying to improve Macron’s centrist party’s chances in the June EU elections. Opinion polls show them trailing far-Right leader Marine Le Pen by about eight to 10 percentage points.
Macron, who has struggled to deal with a more turbulent parliament since losing his absolute majority shortly after being re-elected in 2022, announced on Monday that Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne was resigning.
Education minister Gabriel Attal, a close Macron ally who became a household name after being appointed government spokesperson during the Covid pandemic, was widely cited by political sources and French media as a strong favourite to replace Borne.
If that is confirmed, Attal would, at 34, become France's youngest prime minister, and the first to be openly gay.
Once a member of France’s socialist party before joining Macron, Attal was a junior finance minister and became education minister in 2023, making a name for himself as one of Macron’s most savvy ministers, at ease on radio shows and in parliament.
“If it is indeed Gabriel Attal, it was the best card the president could play,” Ifop pollster Jerome Fourquet told BFM TV, pointing to his popularity, which he said Attal gained thanks to taking quick action as education minister, and through his communication skills.
Opposition leaders were quick to say they didn’t expect much from the change in prime minister.
“Elisabeth Borne, Gabriel Attal or someone else, I don’t care, it will just be the same policies,” Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure told France Inter radio.
Reuters
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