Elisabeth Borne becomes France’s second female Prime Minister

Former Socialist Elisabeth Borne was on Monday named as France’s second ever female prime minister.

President Emmanuel Macron announced the 61-year-old divorced mother-of-one would head his new government.

It follows Edith Cresson, who is now 88, serving as prime minister in a Socialist administration for just under a year ending in 1992.

Following the news of Ms Borne’s appointment, Ms Cresson said: ‘It was about time that there was another woman in the job, and I know Madame Borne is a remarkable person with a lot of experience. It’s a very good choice.’

Ms Borne is a low-profile career bureaucrat who always worked for Socialist Party ministers before joining Mr Macron’s government when the independent came to power in 2017.

During her stint as Environment Minister in 2019 she pushed through a number of bicycle-friendly policies.

She then took charge of the Labour Ministry and oversaw negotiations with unions that resulted in a cut in unemployment benefits.

The unemployment level fell to its lowest level in 15 years and youth unemployment to its lowest level in 40 years.

After quitting the Socialist Party, Ms Borne joined President Macron’s The Republic on the Move (LREM) party, and became Minister of Transport in May 2017.

She began her career in politics in the 1980s, when she worked for the Ministry of Public Works.

Borne has been a favourite to become PM for sometime, namely because of her ties to the political Left.

Mr Macron accepted the resignation of Jean Castex, his last prime minister, after the pair spoke at the Elysée Palace in Paris on Monday afternoon.