French President Emmanuel Macron will keep his prime minister in office, his staff said, ending weeks of speculation about a possible restart after successive crises rocked his government.
Elisabeth Borne’s time at the helm of the government has included the most turbulent episodes yet for Macron’s second term at the helm of France.
In recent months, the nation has been rocked by riots over a contested pension reform and then by riots sparked by the killing of a teenager of North African descent by a police officer.
In France’s political tradition, prime ministers rarely last more than a few years, with Macron serving as his third since taking power in 2017.
His replacement is often a sign of a new political direction.
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Persistent rumors had focused on Macron naming public order interior minister Gerald Darmanin as Borne’s successor, partly as a nod to his handling of unrest that subsided after tens of thousands of police were deployed.
But in the end, Macron opted for the status quo, a member of his entourage said Monday night.
“To ensure stability and in-depth work, the president has decided to keep the prime minister in his post,” the official said.
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The president is set to make an announcement later this week “reminding the country of its clear direction.”
Borne said he will proceed with a minor cabinet reshuffle this week, with Junior Minister Marlene Schiappa criticized for her alleged mishandling of a public fund, and Education Minister Pap Ndiaye likely to be the first to go, according to reports. observers. .
The appointment on Monday of Borne’s new chief of staff, labor law specialist Jean-Denis Combrexelle, seemed to indicate that Borne is looking forward to a renewed dialogue with the unions after a months-long standoff over an increase in the retirement age that she pushed for. through parliament without a vote.
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“Calm has been restored,” the Elysee official said, adding that fears of violence at last week’s Bastille Day celebrations had not materialized, allowing the government to refocus on its political agenda.
Macron’s allies still lack an absolute majority in parliament, and Borne may be a better option for mustering ad hoc support for Macron’s policies than the divisive Darmanin, a former government minister told AFP.
“It is true that no one else would be better at gathering a majority,” said the former minister.
Earlier this month, Borne told Le Parisien newspaper that he had presented his policy proposals to Macron, focusing on labor issues, public order, climate change, health and education.
