France’s Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne resigned from her position, the French Presidency announced yesterday, as part of President Emmanuel Macron’s reshuffle of his administration ahead of European Parliament elections and the upcoming summer Olympics in Paris.
Borne, a 62-year-old career bureaucrat, served as prime minister since May 2022, when she became the second woman to hold the post.
The French president thanked Borne in a tweet for her dedication, stating that her “daily work in the service of our nation has been exemplary. You have implemented our policy with the courage, commitment and determination of a stateswomen. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Macron, who has yet to designate a successor to Borne, is facing difficulties in navigating a volatile political environment after losing the absolute majority in parliament shortly after his re-election in 2022.
Borne’s resignation follows a tumultuous year of political upheaval triggered by unpopular pension reforms and immigration policies.
Her departure comes just five months before the European Parliament elections, raising fears about potential wins for Eurosceptics amid popular dissatisfaction over growing living costs and perceived shortcomings in controlling the influx of migrants.
Since Macron’s December political initiative, speculation has been circulating about a government reshuffle. Potential candidates include Education Minister Gabriel Attal, Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, and former Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie.