French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne tendered her resignation on Monday, which was accepted by President Emmanuel Macron, who thanked her for her “exemplary” work in the “service of the nation,” AFP reported.

In his 20 months at the helm, Mr Bourne’s achievements have included hugely unpopular pension reform and a controversial immigration law.

In her resignation letter, sent to Macron and seen by AFP, she said on Monday that it was “more necessary than ever to continue reforms”.

In recent days, the fate of her position remains unclear, as many close to the president are betting on a large-scale reshuffle after her departure.

She and her team will deal with day-to-day affairs until a new government is appointed.

The former prefect, who is 62 years old, became the second woman to hold the post of prime minister in the history of the French Republic. She will significantly exceed the term (10 months and 18 days) of her predecessor, Edith Cresson, appointed by François Mitterrand more than thirty years ago, in May 1991.

But Bourne had difficulty communicating with the French people and was at odds with the president.

He is expected to be succeeded by young education minister Gabriel Attal, according to a source close to the executive branch.

At 34, he will become the youngest Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic, surpassing the record of Socialist Laurent Fabius, who was appointed at the age of 37 in 1984.

The upcoming government reshuffle is largely aimed at breathing new life into Emmanuel Macron’s second five-year term, which lacks an absolute majority in the Assembly and has been mired in difficulties, including the rise of the far-right.

Macron will not be eligible for re-election in 2027.