French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has tendered his resignation after heading President Emmanuel Macron's government for three years.

Although Mr. Philippe is considered more popular than the president, the ruling La République En Marche (Republic on the Move) had poor local election results at the weekend.

Mr. Philippe met the president and they agreed the government would resign.

President Macron promised a "new path" in an interview published on Friday.

He came to power three years ago but now faces an economic crisis after the coronavirus pandemic. It is common practice for a French president to replace a prime minister during the five-year term in office known as the "quinquennat"

The Elysée palace said in a statement that Edouard Philippe had "today handed in the government's resignation to the president of the republic, who accepted it", adding that he would continue to stay in place until a new government was appointed.

Mr. Philippe's future as prime minister had been in doubt for several weeks and he won the mayoral election in Le Havre on Sunday.