The French government led by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe submitted its resignation Friday ahead of a cabinet reshuffle to be announced “in the coming hours , ” the presidency said .
No reason was given in the short statement , but a shake- up had been widely expected after French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to chart a new course for the last two years of his term .
Speculation that Philippe could be on the way out mounted this week after Macron ’ s centrist party was routed in municipal elections last Sunday and Greens took control of several major cities.
But Philippe , a rightwing politician who never joined Macron ’ s Republic on the Move party, easily won his bid to become mayor of Le Havre .
In theory , Philippe can name a stand – in for the mayor ’ s post so he can remain prime minister , though Macron may prefer to burnish his social justice credentials with a more centrist or leftwing pick .
In an interview with regional newspapers publishing late Thursday , Macron said France must prepare for a “very difficult ” economic crisis , “so we have to chart a new course . ”
“I see this based on an economic , social , environmental and cultural reconstruction , ” he said . “Behind this , there will be a new team . ”
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