French prime minister Edouard Philippe has resigned, with a government reshuffle expected in the coming days.

The official statement did not say whether Mr Philippe will be replaced, or will stay on as the head of a new government.

President Emmanuel Macron is seeking to boost the two remaining years of his term with a focus on efforts to relaunch the French economy after the coronavirus crisis.

The reshuffle comes days after a green wave swept over France in local elections.

Mr Macron saw his centrist party being defeated in France’s biggest cities and stumbling across the country.

The reshuffle was planned even before the vote, as Mr Macron’s government faced obstacles and criticism before Sunday’s election as the virus crisis unfolded.

French President Emmanuel Macron has named Jean Castex, who coordinated France’s virus reopening strategy, as the country’s new prime minister.

The relatively low-profile Mr Castex replaces Edouard Philippe, who resigned earlier in the day.

Mr Macron is reshuffling the government to focus on restarting the economy after months of lockdown.