Emmanuel Macron names Elisabeth Borne as France’s first woman PM in over 30 years
- Borne is seen as an able technocrat who can negotiate prudently with unions, as the Macron embarks on new social reforms that risk sparking protests
- The last woman premier, Edith Cresson, says French politics remain ‘macho’, and the new prime minister will need ‘lots of courage’.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron on Monday named Labour Minister Elisabeth Borne as his new prime minister, the first woman to head the government in over 30 years, the Elysee said in a statement.
Outgoing French Prime Minister Jean Castex earlier handed his resignation to the president, part of a widely expected reshuffle to make way for a new government in the wake of Macron’s re-election in April.
The departure of Castex, who was a surprise choice for the role in 2020, enables Macron to reshape the cabinet ahead of crucial parliamentary polls in June.
The centrist will need a legislative majority to push through his domestic agenda following his re-election, with a new left-wing alliance and the far right threatening to block his programme.
Speculation has been rife in recent weeks about Castex’s replacement, with Macron indicating he wanted a woman with left-wing and environmental credentials.
Those criteria reflect his desire to focus on schools and health in the early part of his second term, as well as the climate crisis, which he has promised to prioritise.