Jean Castex as new Prime Minister of France

Jean Castex, a top civil servant and local Mayor who orchestrated France’s COVID-19 lockdown exit strategy, as his new Prime Minister on 3 july 2020. Mr. Castex, 55, served for two years as the second-highest ranking official in the Elysee Palace during Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidency.The announcement followed the resignation of Edouard Philippe ahead of a widely anticipated overhaul of the government by Mr. Macron.Mr. Macron is reshaping his government as France grapples with the deepest economic depression since Second World War, a sharp downturn that will shrink the economy by about 11% in 2020. The local elections revealed surging support for the Green party and underlined Mr. Macron’s troubles connecting with ordinary people.