BOTA

Elisabeth Borne, the first woman in 30 years to head the government of France

Elisabeth Borne, the first woman in 30 years to head the government of France

President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Elisabeth Borne as France's new prime minister. Elisabeth Borne, who has been Labor minister in the current government, is the first woman to head the French government in more than 30 years.

The 61-year-old centrist politician succeeds Jean Castex, whose resignation was expected following the re-election of French President Emmanuel Macron last month.

Macron and Borne are expected to appoint members of the new Government in the coming days.

In 2015 she had become chief executive of the state-owned transport company, RATP, which operates the Paris Metro.

Borne is the second woman prime minister after Edith Cresson, who served in the post from 1991-1992 during the tenure of Socialist President Francois Mitterrand.