PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce a new prime minister as early as Monday, according to sources close to him. This decision comes as Macron faces political setbacks and challenges from the far-right National Rally led by Marine Le Pen.
The current Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, has been in a precarious position since an immigration bill proposed by Macron was voted down in parliament last month. The bill was eventually passed with several controversial changes imposed by the center-right opposition.
Macron recently met with Borne to discuss various issues, including flooding in northern France and the upcoming freeze across the country. However, it is widely speculated that they also discussed the anticipated cabinet reshuffle.
Francois Bayrou, a centrist leader who played a crucial role in Macron’s election in 2017, stated that a change in the government makeup is necessary. In the French system, the president sets general policies while the prime minister is responsible for day-to-day government management. As a result, the prime minister often faces the consequences when the administration encounters turbulence.
Over the past week, Macron has consulted with Bayrou, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, and former prime minister Edouard Philippe regarding the revitalization of his administration. However, no final decisions were made before the meeting with Borne.
According to a close adviser of Macron, the president is finalizing his choices and significant developments are expected at the beginning of the week, potentially with the announcement of a new prime minister on Monday. However, another associate of the president added that everything is possible, including the possibility of Borne retaining her position.
If Borne is replaced, the two leading candidates for the role are Sebastien Lecornu, the 37-year-old defense minister, and Julien Denormandie, the 43-year-old former agriculture minister who has been a close ally of Macron for the past decade. Choosing between the two candidates could further exacerbate tensions within Macron’s movement, as Denormandie has been with Macron since the beginning of his presidential campaign, while Lecornu joined later after leaving the center-right The Republicans party.
Macron’s political party does not have a majority in parliament and is already facing disagreements over the immigration law. The law was significantly toughened as a condition for gaining necessary support from The Republicans. In response, around 200 French intellectuals, actors, and union leaders have issued a call to protest against the law on January 21, stating that it represents a “dangerous turn for the Republic.”
Denormandie, who nearly started a start-up with Macron in 2014 before becoming his deputy chief of staff during Macron’s tenure as Economy Minister under President Francois Hollande, has been working in the private sector since 2022.
In conclusion, French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce a new prime minister in the coming days. This decision comes as Macron faces political challenges and seeks to reinvigorate his administration. The choice of a new prime minister could have significant implications for Macron’s movement and the political landscape in France.
Source: The Manila Times
