The reframing of Michel Barnier’s new Minister of the Economy on the RN provokes reactions even in the presidential camp

On Tuesday, Antoine Armand considered that the National Rally did not belong to “the republican arc”. Enough to make Marine Le Pen jump, whom Michel Barnier wanted to reassure personally.

A Prime Minister who reframes one of his ministers three days after his appointment. This is what happened on Tuesday, September 24, when Michel Barnier asked Antoine Armand, the new Minister of the Economy, to receive the RN like all the other political groups in order to prepare the budget. A reframe carried out after Marine Le Pen was offended that the RN was kept at a distance. The episode was denounced by the left-wing opposition, but also by several members of the presidential camp, who were visibly troubled.

The Prime Minister is in the hands of the National Rally and this episode proves it, believes environmentalist Benjamin Lucas. For the Yvelines MP, “Respecting Parliament is one thing. It is another to build a privileged partnership, which is the case in this case with Marine Le Pen. It is another to literally bow down to Marine Le Pen”. And why, adds one of his left-wing colleagues, create situations which give Marine Le Pen a platform?

The episode raises questions even within the presidential clan, in particular within the Modem, which is supposed to support the government. Erwan Balanant, MP for Finistère, does not understand why Michel Barnier is so attentive to the RN. “I find it shocking. I think that the Prime Minister has no business calling Mrs Le Pen.”

“I did not form an alliance with Mrs Le Pen. I was elected as the result of a Republican front that said things clearly.”

Erwan Balanant, MP for Finistère

to franceinfo

Questions also arise from Sacha Houlié, who recently slammed the door on Renaissance. “The Prime Minister explains that we should work with the National Rally. Well, I think that’s a problem, says the MP. Many people like me wonder about the political orientation which seems to lean to the right anyway.”

A direction that will cause other departures from Renaissance, believes Sacha Houlié, he hopes to soon bring together deputies disappointed with Macronism in an independent political group anchored on the left.

The fact remains that this reframing further tarnishes the very young Barnier government, after the exchange of words between the Ministers of the Interior and Justice. So many subjects that should be invited, in an electric atmosphere, to the meeting of the heads of the parliamentary groups of the “common base” who support the executive around the Prime Minister, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at Matignon.