France's Macron to name new PM as he launches political reset

French President Emmanuel Macron was expected to appoint a new Prime Minister, as he seeks to boost his second mandate ahead of European parliament elections.

French President Emmanuel Macron was expected to appoint a new Prime Minister on January 9, as he seeks to boost his second mandate ahead of European parliament elections.

The move will not necessarily lead to any major political shift but rather signals a desire for Mr. Macron to try to move beyond last year's unpopular pension and immigration reforms by focusing on new priorities, including reaching full employment.

The new Prime Minister will also be tasked with trying to improve Mr. Macron's centrist party's chances in the June EU elections. Opinion polls show them trailing far-right leader Marine Le Pen by around eight to ten percentage points.

Mr. Macron, who has struggled to deal with a more turbulent parliament since losing his absolute majority shortly after being reelected in 2022, announced on Monday that Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne was resigning.

Education Minister Gabriel Attal, a close Macron ally who became a household name after being appointed government spokesman during the COVID pandemic, was widely cited by political sources and French media as a strong favourite to replace Ms. Borne.

If that is confirmed, Mr. Attal would, at 34, become France's youngest Prime Minister, and the first to be openly gay.

Once a member of France's socialist party before joining Mr. Macron, Mr. Attal was a junior Finance Minister and became Education Minister in 2023, making a name for himself as one of Mr. Macron's most savvy Ministers, at ease on radio shows and in parliament.