Paris (France) (AFP)

Emmanuel Macron is "stopping the line" following his five-year term and "the casting will follow logically and naturally" for the major reshuffle planned in the coming days, according to his entourage on Wednesday.

Returning from Nouakchott overnight, the head of state continues his consultations for the reshuffle, without letting his intentions filter, even with his Prime Minister Edouard Philippe whose fate is pending.

His decision is not yet taken, according to his relatives, and his verdict should fall by the beginning of next week, perhaps as early as this Thursday or this Friday.

By announcing on Monday new ambitions for the ecological transition, after having promised in mid-June a more social policy or by suggesting to apply to other subjects the method of the Citizen Convention with citizens drawn by lot, the head of the State has drawn a turn that could be incompatible with Edouard Philippe.

The latter enjoys an increasing popularity, a clear victory at the municipal elections in Le Havre and continues to play a key role in the conquest of the center-right electorate. But the subjects of dissension with the Head of State remain, in particular the financial aspects of the pension reform. Emmanuel Macron said he wanted to restart the reform but perhaps without the pivotal age, fiercely defended by the head of government before the Covid-19 crisis.

Especially since Emmanuel Macron also wishes, according to his relatives, to take over himself more closely the reins of the executive, after leaving Edouard Philippe on the front line in recent months on pension reform or deconfinement.

Many names are circulating to replace him in Matignon, such as Michel Barnier, the Brexit negotiator, the senior official Jean Castex, the former Minister of Ecology Jean-Louis Borloo, or even the Minister for the Armed Forces Florence Parly, who has l advantage of already knowing the government machine and having gone through Bercy and the private sector, or the president of the Ile-de-France region, Valérie Pécresse.

The Elysée Palace did not publish its agenda for the rest of the week or confirm an appointment with Edouard Philippe mentioned by the media. A cabinet meeting is expected to take place on Friday.

© 2020 AFP