Can Macron’s ‘Swiss army knife’ save his presidency?

His name is unknown, but resonates like that of a character from Astérix the Gaul. Jean Castex is France’s new prime minister, with a government reshuffle to follow. In ridding himself of the stolid and popular Edouard Philippe, Emmanuel Macron is playing his last hand in the presidential poker game to reset his troubled presidency.

In fact Macron has appointed Edouard Philippe’s double. Castex, like his predecessor when first appointed to Matignon is unknown among the public, but an enarque, technocrat, top civil servant, member of the conservative Parti Républicain, with a foot in local mayoralty. A small difference between the two is Castex’s down-to-earth southern accent, something unheard among prime ministers of the 5^th Republic, albeit dominant in the 19^th century.

Macron has chosen Castex precisely because he is unknown and unlikely to cast a shadow across his route to the 2022 presidentials, unlike Edouard Philippe. All because Macron wants to take back control for his last ‘500 days’.