France’s PM Philippe resigns ahead of Cabinet reshuffle

France’s government led by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has resigned on Friday ahead of a Cabinet reshuffle set to be announced “in the coming hours,” according to a presidency statement.
The short statement had not revealed any reasons behind the shake-up move, which was 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 rose this week after Macron’s centrist party was routed in municipal elections earlier on Sunday and Greens had controlled several major cities.
In an interview with regional newspapers publishing late Thursday, Macron stated that 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,” the French president said. “Behind this, there will be a new team.”