French prime minister resigns
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has resigned, paving the way for a government reshuffle. The favourite to succeed her is Education Minister Gabriel Attal. The reconfiguration is seen as a consequence of the recent difficulties of the government camp, which does not have an absolute majority, in pushing through legislative proposals such as the draft law on migration. What does this mean for the country and President Emmanuel Macron?
All or nothing
Macron's strategy is risky, explains historian Jean Garrigues in Le Figaro:
“A change of prime minister today is a game of all or nothing. If the new tenant of the prime minister's residence in the Hôtel Matignon manages to give the five-year government a new dynamic based on the civic and moral 'rearmament' mentioned by Emmanuel Macron in his New Year's wishes for France, and if this new dynamic translates into 'catching up' in the European elections, then the bet will be won. ... But if the new prime minister fails to make his mark and the president's list is clearly beaten by the list of the Rassemblement National, the head of state will have no room for manoeuvre.”
Le Pen breathing down Macron's neck
The reshuffle has little to do with Borne or her policies, Corriere della Sera notes:
“This is a decisive moment for Macron, who must revitalise his government activities in view of the European elections in June. If his opponent Marine Le Pen makes further gains, the president will also be weakened in his European and international radius of action. Macron needs to bring about a turnaround, and he is doing so in the French tradition by replacing the prime minister, who has always been predestined to be sacrificed in order to usher in a new phase.”
The president stands alone
This will have consequences for Macron, La Croix explains:
“Replacing the prime minister is all well and good. But why? The answer is clear to all: so that Emmanuel Macron can regain the upper hand after the disastrous vote on the immigration law, which followed the equally turbulent vote on the pension reform. But these two episodes were the result of the president's decisions. The prime minister merely loyally carried out his instructions. ... It is worrying that Macron increasingly finds himself alone in a face-to-face confrontation with the nation. Parliament is no longer fulfilling its role as legislator and supervisory body, and presents the image of a place where whoever shouts the loudest is heard most.”