France’s first female Prime Minister was Edith Cresson, who held the office from 1991 to 1992
France on Monday, appointed centrist politician, Elisabeth Borne, as the new Prime Minister. Borne is the second Prime Minister in France’s history after Edith Cresson (1991-1992) under socialist President, Francois Mitterrand.
Borne, 61, succeeds Jean Castex, who resigned earlier in the day as Labor Minister in the previous government. Macron was re-elected president of France last month, defeating far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in a run-off vote.
“Ecology, health, education, full employment, democratic revival, Europe, and security: we will continue to act tirelessly for the French people together, with the new government,” French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter shortly after Borne’s appointment.
France will hold the Parliamentary elections in June, which will be seen widely as the second and final round of Presidential elections.
Who is Elisabeth Borne:
Borne spoke shortly after her appointment, expressing her feelings about being chosen for the highest office a woman has ever held in French political leadership. “I’d like to dedicate this nomination to all the little girls, encouraging them to ‘Go after your dreams!’ Nothing should derail the fight for women’s equality in our society,” she said.
She has been Labor Minister since 2020, implemented changes that made it more difficult for unemployed people to get benefits. She also reduced monthly payments for some unemployed people, prompting criticism from labor unions and the left.
Elisabeth has never held elected office, was close to the traditional left at the start of her career. She notably worked as chief of staff to Socialist politician Ségolène Royal, and then as ecology minister under President Francois Hollande.
In 2015, Borne was appointed CEO of the state-owned transport company RATP, which operates the Paris metro. In 2017, she joined Macron’s centrist party. In Macron’s first government, she served as transport minister before becoming minister of ecological transition.
Borne dedicated her appointment to “all the little girls” and encouraged them to “follow their dreams” in her speech at Matignon. “Nothing should slow down the fight for women’s rights in our society,” she added.
Priorities of the new PM:
The new prime minister’s first task will be to ensure that Macron’s centrist party and its allies do well in France’s June parliamentary election. The two-round vote will determine which party holds the majority of seats in France’s National Assembly, which has the final say over the Senate in the country’s legislative process.
Macron also promised a bill to address rising living costs in France, where food and energy prices are skyrocketing. It will be prepared by his new government and presented shortly after the parliamentary election.
If Macron’s party wins a majority in the Assembly, Borne will be responsible for enacting the pension changes promised by the president. It was about raising the minimum retirement age from 62 to 65. Workers, unions, and left-wing voters have all criticized the proposed changes.
Macron also stated that the new prime minister would be directly in charge of “green planning,” with the goal of hastening France’s implementation of climate-related policies. Macron has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions “twice as fast” in his second term.
Divided France:
Emmanuel Macron defeated far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, in the April 24 presidential polls, winning by 59 percent to 41 percent. Both Le Pen and defeated hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon are eyeing comebacks in the June 12 and 19 parliamentary elections, which would give them the ability to derail Macron.
Melenchon recently persuaded the Socialist, Communist, and Green parties to form an alliance under his leadership. He brought the left together for the first time in decades around a common platform.
Macron’s opponents were less complimentary of Borne. Her appointment, according to Le Pen, demonstrates the president’s “inability to unite and his desire to pursue his policy of contempt.”
Read More – 2022 France Presidential Elections | election in France
