FRENCH PM EDOUARD PHILIPPE OUT, JEAN CASTEX IN

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has tendered his resignation after heading President Emmanuel Macron’s government for three years.
The president swiftly named centre-right mayor Jean Castex to lead a new team of ministers after a reshuffle.

Although Mr Philippe was considered more popular than the president, the ruling party had poor local election results at the weekend.

Mr Philippe met the president early in the morning and they agreed the government would resign.

A reshuffle has been expected for some time, and it is common practice for a French president to replace a prime minister during the five-year term in office known as the “quinquennat”.