Macron Looks To Bolster Euro Parliament Campaign w/New PM & Reshuffle

Re resignation of PM Elisabeth Borne on the evening of 8 Jan comes as President Emmanuel Macron seeks to bolster the prospects of his centrist Renaissance-led alliance ahead of the 9 June European Parliament elections. French media reports suggest that Education Minister Gabriel Attal is set to be named as Borne's successor. At 34 years of age, Attal would be the youngest prime minister of the French Fifth Republic.

• Macron's second term in office has been dogged by political and legislative instability, with the lack of a majority for his centrist alliance in the National Assembly severely limiting his ability to pass new laws.
• Indeed, the difficultiesthe gov't faced in passing an immigration bill in Dec 2023 - with the gov't requiring the support of the conservative Les Republicains - (LR) has been seen as a major factor in Macron's decision to enact a reshuffle.
• While Macron will be keen to avoid 'lame duck' status in the remainder of his term until 2027 and reinvigorate his party before the EP elections, there will also be an eye on the future. Renaissance and its predecessor En Marche were created as political vehicles for Macron's presidential runs in 2017 and 2022.
• As such, establishing an heir apparent to contest the 2027 election will be crucial for Macron and his bloc given that right-wing nationalist RN leader Marine Le Pen comfortably leads early opinion polling. The promotion of Attal, who trails only Horizons party leader Edouard Philippe in polling among the main centrist parties, could come as an effort to give the Education Minister Macron's 'seal of approval' in the run up to the election.

Source: Ifop, MNI. Fieldwork 24-25 Oct 2023. 1,179 respondents