Michel Barnier clarifies his vision of the role of Prime Minister to LR parliamentarians

During his trip to Savoie and Haute-Savoie on Thursday, Michel Barnier set himself the objective of appointing “a representative and plural government”.

The Prime Minister took advantage of his trip to Savoie to stop by Annecy for the Parliamentary Days of the Republican Right, his political family. In front of the LR deputies and senators, Michel Barnier expressed his desire to mark his ground a little more with the President of the Republic.

“The president presides, the government governs”this has become one of Michel Barnier’s favourite phrases. “He will not be a collaborator of the president but a full-fledged Prime Minister”welcomes Senator Bruno Retailleau. The latter also believes that we are going to approach the configuration “cohabitation”… Even if Michel Barnier does not say the word.

The Prime Minister went even further: according to him, the President of the Republic no longer has “reserved domain”there are only “shared domains” between the two heads of the executive, including in matters of international relations.

A new milestone set by a Michel Barnier who is clearly determined not to let anyone walk all over him. A point on which the President of the Republic seemed to respond from a distance, during a visit to Le Havre: “It is up to the government to pass texts and administer. The president has his own skills”assures Emmanuel Macron. He adds that he hopes that “compromises will be woven” between political forces.

A few hours earlier Michel Barnier spoke of “dynamic compromise” and necessary “mutualization” between the parties. In any case, he assured the right-wing deputies that he would rely on the 13 texts that form their “legislative pact”. Words that have finally convinced the LR elected officials. They are ready to participate in the Barnier government. “Michel Barnier needs us and we will be there”party executives shout. And the elected officials start to discuss each other’s ambitions: Laurent Wauquiez who is aiming for the Ministry of the Interior, Annie Genevard who wouldn’t say no to Education…

“It’s curious, it’s the first time I’ve wondered if comrades are going to become ministers, it’s never happened to me, except when there were poachings”

jokes a deputy

who did not experience the period before 2012.

“I haven’t sent out a CV and I’m not trying to complete it.”a deputy replied with a smile. “Anyway, Michel is old enough to choose his government”.

In the game of “Who will be minister?”, the parliamentarians avoid answering about their own case. One of them points out that being a man elected in Île-de-France is not the best configuration, “but if I were a woman elected in the region, why not”, reference to the necessary variety of profiles sought.

A stone’s throw from the entrance to the Annecy casino, a member of parliament tries a metaphor: “When you put a coin in a slot machine, you’re not sure you’ll win the jackpot.” A way of warning his colleagues: ministerial positions will be rather rare and the mission could turn out to be very short.