Rabat – President Emmanuel Macron appointed on Friday, July 3, Jean Castex as new Prime Minister after Edouard Philippe announced his resignation.
The appointment is part of a “major cabinet reshuffle” following Philippe’s decision to handhis resignation letter to the government.
Macron’s reshuffle strategy seeks to focus on plans to revive the country’s economy, which was directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
CNBC reported that the president had to decide on Philippe’s future the former PM “had become more popular among the electorate in the aftermath of the pandemic than the president himself.”
Macron said in an interview on Thursday, July 2, that he is looking forward to a “new path” to shape his country for the two remaining years in his term.
The French President will face a new election campaign in 2020.
Castex is little known in the government circle, but he was active in the campaign France launched against the pandemic.
The 55-year old leader of the new French government worked under Nicolas Sarcozy presidency, where he served as assistant secretary general from 2010 until his end of mandate.
Castex then worked as the Directorate of Hospitalization and Organization of Care at the Ministry of Health.
He led Xavier Bertrand’s cabinet at the Ministry of Health (2005-2007).
The new prime minister is known as “Monsieur deconfinement” or “Mr. end quarantine,” as he held the task to prepare a strategy to exit the lockdown.
