Macron Taps Jean Castex to Be France’s New Prime Minister in Reshuffle

  • French president asked his government to resign Friday
  • Castex is a relatively new face on the French political scene
Jean Castex

Photographer: Gonzalo Fuentes/AFP via Getty Images

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Emmanuel Macron made an unexpected choice to inject momentum into his presidency: Tapping a conservative and former aide of ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy, Jean Castex.

After a disastrous showing in June municipal elections, the French president picked a fresh face in the political scene and pushed aside a potential rival, Edouard Philippe, who is popular among voters.