French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Elisabeth Borne as his new prime minister Monday following the resignation of Jean Castex.
Borne, 61, who previously served as labor, employment, and integration minister under Macron in the outgoing government, will be only the second woman in French history to hold the position.
LE PEN RETURNS TO CAMPAIGN FOR FRENCH PARLIAMENT AFTER LOSS TO MACRON
“Follow your dreams,” Borne said in a speech Monday, appealing to young girls in France, according to the New York Times. “Nothing must slow down the fight for the place of women in our societies.”
Macron’s choice is seen as a direct appeal to the left-leaning end of his party, La Republique en Marche, whose support he will rely on in next month’s parliamentary elections to maintain control.
Borne, who has served under previous Socialist Party ministers and negotiated reforms with the French railway company SNCF, will steer Macron’s contentious pension reform.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Macron is facing opposition from left-wing leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who is leading a coalition of left-wing parties hoping to deprive Macron’s party of a majority in the June elections. If Macron’s party fails to achieve a majority, it would strip away some of his presidential power.
