The French are awaiting in the coming days a ministerial reshuffle within the government led by Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, as there has been much talk in political and media circles about a possible and significant cabinet reshuffle that will affect many ministerial portfolios.

It is clear that French President Emmanuel Macron wants to start the new year with a government capable of continuing the reform path in the country.. In his speech on the occasion of the Gregorian New Year, Macron looked forward to 2024 being the "year of pride and hope" for the French, with the country preparing to host the Olympic Games and reopen the Notre-Dame Cathedral after it suffered a devastating fire in 2019.

Last December, the French president promised a meeting with the French nation to be held during this January to deliver a message that strengthens "unity," especially after tensions that have affected the French social fabric recently.. Thus, Macron seeks to open a new page at the start of 2024 with a government team to regain the trust of the French people after 2023, which saw many reforms, as well as controversial laws such as the pension law that sparked many protests in the French streets, and recently the new immigration law that caused widespread controversy due to its more stringent provisions.

In the past period, speculations about a ministerial reshuffle have increased, as the postponement of the Cabinet meeting that was scheduled for last Wednesday to next week would reinforce the likelihood of this government reshuffle.

Probabilities have increased regarding whether this reshuffle could affect the French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, as the question remains whether Élisabeth Borne will remain in her position at the head of the government? Or will President Macron replace her with another, especially after he publicly thanked her for her efforts on New Year's Eve.

Élisabeth Borne still faces high rates of dissatisfaction with her performance, and according to the "Elabe" poll, only 23% of respondents trust her ability to effectively address the main problems in the country. She has also faced many criticisms, especially after the pension reform law was passed without parliamentary voting, and recently with the new immigration law.

Several names of potential political figures to succeed Prime Minister Borne are circulating, with the goal being to find a prime minister capable of uniting the presidential majority, which witnessed division due to the new immigration law, and capable of forming alliances within the relative majority in the National Assembly.

Among the proposed names are Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of Defense, Christophe Béchu, Minister of Ecological Transition, and Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Finance and Economy, according to the French news agency, where the name of Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, a conservative from the right, is widely mentioned. He enjoys great appreciation from the head of state, being a close friend of Emmanuel Macron, although this possibility displeases some of the president’s allies.

Also, the name of one of Macron's supporters, Julien Denormandie (43 years old), who previously held government positions three times during Macron's first five-year term (in the Ministries of Housing and Agriculture), has been suggested.

The name of Richard Ferrand (61 years old), former president of the National Assembly, has also been mentioned. One of his close associates said, "Like many of Macron's allies, they thought of returning to political life, but Ferrand showed no enthusiasm about that, especially after his defeat in the 2022 legislative elections."

The name of Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy for six years in the government, who also calls for more reforms, has been proposed.

However, the option of keeping Élisabeth Borne in her position remains despite all these proposed names.

Additionally, this ministerial reshuffle is expected to affect key ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; there is a possibility that Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna will leave her post, as an adviser to one of the ministers said: "No one thinks Catherine Colonna will be present next week."

It is also possible that Health Minister Agnès Firmin Le Bodo, who was appointed temporarily after the resignation of Aurélien Rousseau due to his disagreement over the immigration law, may leave. However, Le Bodo is facing an investigation regarding receiving gifts worth 20,000 euros from a laboratory, according to the French site "Mediapart."

As for other ministers who protested against the new immigration law after its passage, such as Transport Minister Clément Beaune, Higher Education Minister Sylvie Retailleau, and Housing Minister Patrice Vergriette, their fate in remaining in the government during the new reshuffle remains uncertain.

The fate of Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak is also still uncertain, as she openly opposed the French president regarding the case of the famous French star Gérard Depardieu, recently accused of sexual assault.

French Labor Minister Olivier Dussopt, who will await judgment on January 17 regarding a case of "nepotism" alleged against him when he was mayor of Annonay in the south of the country, may be replaced by Richard Ferrand if he is not appointed head of the government.

The ministerial reshuffle is expected to occur later.. The last reshuffle was on July 20, when the French presidency announced changes involving several ministries including Health, Education, and Solidarity. At that time, Macron decided to keep Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne in her position despite pressures faced by the government during the riots that France witnessed last year.