French President Retains Prime Minister Following Pension Crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron is keeping his prime minister in place, putting an end to weeks of speculation about a possible reset after a series of problems rocked his cabinet.

Elisabeth Borne’s tenure as Prime minister has featured some of the most tumultuous incidents in Macron’s second term as President of France.

Unrest over contentious pension reform, followed by rioting caused by a police officer’s shooting of a minor of North African heritage, has shaken the country in recent months.

Prime Ministers in France seldom last more than a few years, and Macron is on his third since entering office in 2017.

Their replacement is frequently a sign of a shift in political orientation.

Rumors circulated that President Macron might name law-and-order Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin as Borne’s successor, in part to recognize his management of the riots which subsided when tens of thousands of police were deployed.

But, in the end, President Macron chose the status quo, according to a member of his entourage late Monday.

“To ensure stability and in-depth work, the president has decided to keep the prime minister in place”, the person explained.

The president is expected to make an announcement later this week reminding the country of his clear direction.

Prime Minister Borne plans to reorganize her cabinet this week, with junior minister Marlene Schiappa, who is under pressure for alleged mismanagement of a public fund, and Education Minister Pap Ndiaye likely to be the first to go.

The appointment of labor law specialist Jean-Denis Combrexelle as Prime Minister Borne is hoping for a renewed dialogue with unions following a months-long standoff over an increase in the retirement age that she pushed through parliament without a vote.

“Calm has been restored”, said an Elysee official, adding that worries of violence during last week’s Bastille Day celebrations were unfounded, allowing the administration to refocus on its policy agenda.

President Macron’s allies still lack an absolute majority in parliament, and Prime Minister Borne may be a better choice than the divisive Mr. Darmanin to rally ad hoc backing for President Macron’s initiatives, according to one former government minister.

“It is true that nobody else would be better at gathering a majority”, the ex-minister added.

Prime Minister Borne told Le Parisien this month that she has submitted her policy recommendations to President Macron, focusing on labor issues, public order, climate change, health, and education.

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