French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has submitted her resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, according to a statement released by the French presidency. The announcement comes as Macron prepares to unveil a long-anticipated cabinet reshuffle in a bid to inject new momentum into his presidency.

Borne, who assumed office in May 2022, has served as the second female prime minister in French history. She will continue in a caretaker role until a new government is appointed. President Macron expressed his gratitude to Borne for her exemplary service to the nation.

Speculation about a potential reshuffle had been fueled by Macron's promise of a new political initiative in December. Throughout 2023, France faced political turmoil due to contentious reforms in the pension system and immigration laws.

Opinion polls indicate that Macron's party is currently trailing far-right leader Marine Le Pen's party by approximately eight to 10 points ahead of the upcoming June vote. As potential replacements for Borne, Education Minister Gabriel Attal (34 years old) and Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu (37 years old) have been mentioned. If appointed, either of them would become the youngest prime minister in French history.

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and former Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie have also been speculated as possible choices. The change in prime minister is expected to signify a desire to shift focus from previous reforms to new priorities, including achieving full employment.

Despite a lack of an absolute majority in parliament since re-election in 2022, Macron and his government, led by Borne, have faced challenges in passing legislation. However, Macron's advisers claim successful implementation of key aspects of his economic agenda during the first 18 months of his second term. They assert that future reforms, such as education and euthanasia, will be approached with greater consensus.

The forthcoming reshuffle is likely to fuel speculation within Macron's camp for potential successors in the next presidential election in 2027. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, and current Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin are considered as potential candidates for the presidency.