French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday named Gabriel Attal as his new prime minister in a cabinet reshuffle that aims to reboot the final three years of his presidency.
After days of intense behind-the-scenes manoeuvring, current education minister Gabriel Attal was named as new prime minister, the fourth since 2017 under Macron.
The 34-year-old is France's youngest and first openly gay head of government, a source close to the presidency told French news agency AFP.
Macron late Monday accepted the resignation of Elisabeth Borne, 62, after serving less than two years in office.
Attal is seen to be a more political figure than the technocratic Borne, and polls have shown him to be the most popular government minister.
Under the French system, the president sets general policies and the prime minister is responsible for day-to-day government management, meaning the latter often pays the price when an administration runs into turbulence.
Confirming the move on social media, Macron said he wanted the new premier to bring back the spirit of bold change which he promised during his first campaign.
"I know I can count on your energy and your commitment," said Macron on X, adding that the Attal would act in line with the spirit of "excellence and audacity" of 2017.
Crisis mode
The shake-up comes ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris and European parliament elections this summer where Macron's centrist forces risk defeat at the hands of the far-right under Marine Le Pen.
Commentators see the reshuffle as essential to relaunch Macron's centrist presidency for its last three years and prevent him becoming a "lame duck" leader after a series of crises.
Since he defeated the far right to win a second term in 2022, Macron has faced protests over unpopular pension reforms, the loss of his overall majority in parliamentary elections and controversy over immigration legislation.
While Macron cannot run again in 2027 presidential elections, relaunching his government is seen as crucial to help prevent Le Pen becoming president.
Overwhelming pile of emergencies
The conservative daily Le Figaro said Borne was leaving a political situation "that remains as fragile as ever.
"Changing a face at the top doesn't change the overall picture," the newspaper said, adding Borne's successor was facing "an overwhelming pile of political emergencies" including the task to unite a fragmented nation.
Borne's resignation letter to Macron, a copy of which was seen by AFP, hinted that she would have preferred to stay in her job.
"While I must present the resignation of my government, I wanted to tell you how passionate I was about this mission," she wrote.
Macron thanked Borne, only the second woman to lead the French government, for "work in the service of our nation that has been exemplary every day".
Minister of Transport Clément Beaune, thanked Borne on X for her "courage" and her "convictions".
Macron's party, Renaissance also praised Borne's "20 months as prime minister" on social networks.
The leader of the Renaissance party in parliament Sylvain Maillard also congratulated Attal on X saying "I am sure that you will be able to faithfully carry out our project and embody the values that are ours."
