France’s new Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, is the first woman to hold the job in more than 30 years and says she hopes to inspire young girls.
Elisabeth Borne, the French minister for labour, has been appointed prime minister, the first woman to hold the post in more than 30 years and only the second female prime minister in modern French history.
“I want to dedicate my nomination to all little girls and tell them to go all the way pursuing your dreams,” she said in her inauguration speech.
Ms Borne has detailed experience of key green and social policy issues. She served previously as transport minister and ecological transition minister under Mr Macron, who was re-elected last month.
On Monday the outgoing PM, Jean Castex, called Ms Borne “première ministre” – a feminine form of the usual “premier ministre” – to underline the historical significance of her appointment. Critics say France’s ruling elite has lagged behind other European countries in appointing women to top jobs.
Ms Édith Cresson, France’s first female prime minister, said French politics was still “macho”. “It was high time there was another woman,” she said, praising Ms Borne as “a remarkable person, with great experience in the public and private sectors”.
Melénchon: “A new season of social and environmental mistreatment begins”
Macron’s opponents were quick to criticize her appointment. Le Pen, who is running for re-election to parliament, said: “Emmanuel Macron has shown his incapacity to unite people and the will to continue his politics of looking down on people, deconstructing the state and wrecking the social [security system], of fiscal rackets and laxism.”
The radical left’s Jean-Luc Mélenchon tweeted that Borne’s appointment meant “the continuity of the president’s policies”. He tweeted: “Ms Borne is against raising minimum wages and for retiring at 65. A new season of social and environmental mistreatment begins.”