With his shocking declarations and proposals, the new Minister of the Interior, very present in the media, gives assurances to the National Rally, while exasperating the centrists of the fragile “common base” coalition.
A swarm of microphones and cameras descends on Bruno Retailleau, Tuesday October 8, at the National Assembly. However, the Minister of the Interior has only a simple statement to make regarding the unpaid rent of the national gendarmerie. But it has been like this for three weeks and his arrival at the Ministry of the Interior: the former boss of Les Républicains senators has attracted the spotlight. And the critics, even in the ranks of Michel Barnier’s government.
“He is in the ministry most exposed to current events, which constantly forces him to speak,” asserts those around him, ensuring that “for one interview he accepts, he refuses a hundred.” TF1 news, interview in Le Figaroone-hour set on LCI, exchange with The JDDinterview on immigration in The Parisian… Government number 4 occupies the space. According to the latest Elabe barometer for Les Echosthis has also allowed it to gain notoriety and positive opinions (+6 points, to 21%).
“It’s almost a characteristic of interior ministers. Nicolas Sarkozy, Manuel Valls, Gérald Darmanin did the same thing, reminds franceinfo Senator LR Roger Karoutchi. And then, there aren’t many stars in this government, obviously, the three or four who are a little more visible are invited to the media.” “He has so far been the most proactive minister in the media”concedes a minister from Renaissance, before adding that the situation will not last.
“He took advantage of the ‘pre-budget’ sequence to make his mark, but after the presentation of the budget, I don’t think much will exist.”
A minister of the Barnier governmentat franceinfo
By bringing together his team in Matignon on September 23, the Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, asked the members of his government to “humility” and“act before communicating”. Bruno Retailleau interpreted this instruction in a very personal way. On social networks, he does not hesitate to document his visits to the gendarmes, his participation in tribute ceremonies or even his European meetings. “The Minister of the Interior must communicate all year round, defends those around him. It must inspire a state of mind: the absence of inevitability, the will to do, this is part of political action.”
This former close friend of Philippe de Villiers, known for his very conservative positions, is taking up space and increasing the number of outings in the field of immigration. After saying he wanted to reform State Medical Aid, the omnipresent minister also declared that the rule of law was not “not intangible, nor sacred” or even that immigration was not “not a chance”. Latest episode to date: in his interview with Parisianhe pleads for a new immigration law and says he wants to return to the Valls circular to toughen the conditions for regularization of undocumented immigrants.
Each intervention by the minister is experienced as a provocation by part of the troops of the “common base”, this fragile coalition made up of LR and the parties of the presidential camp. “This is the last straw. It’s unbearable!”an Ensemble pour la République (EPR, ex-Renaissance) MP gets angry about Bruno Retailleau’s latest comments in The Parisian. “There are some of us who wonder if we will be able to support this government for a long time…”
“We are not here to race for the RN.”
An EPR deputyat franceinfo
“We can talk about immigration without denigrating the French who come from it”reacted Prisca Thevenot, at the end of September, on X. The former spokesperson for the Attal government accuses the Minister of the Interior of “the bed of the RN”by not distinguishing between illegal and legal immigration. “We would just like him to respect the Prime Minister’s instructions: ‘Less communication and more work’. There, he only does communications and that strains everyone”still annoys an EPR deputy. “He has the same attitude as his predecessors by flexing his muscles and making announcements, adds someone close to Emmanuel Macron. He would do better to get on with the task, rather than making statements every day.”
The Minister of Health, the centrist Geneviève Darrieussecq, is not to be outdone. “There is no question of touching State Medical Aid”she said, adding: “I want everyone to be reassured on this point.” “We needed some break-in time”pleads with franceinfo Maud Bregeon, government spokesperson. “But we must accept our differences and find ways of compromise. No one has the luxury of hegemony.”
Bruno Retailleau still seems to benefit from a special position within the government team. When Pierre Cazeneuve, EPR deputy, takes to the podium of the Assembly on Tuesday to reject the motion of censure tabled by the left, he does not hesitate to emphasize that the government includes certain members he appreciates “a little less” than the others. On the ministerial bench, Michel Barnier and Bruno Retailleau exchange a look and a knowing smile. Questioned on the ground by the deputy and former Macronist Sacha Houlié, the head of government reaffirmed his confidence in his minister on Thursday: “Everything he does, everything he does will be concerted in this team.”
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Those around the Vendéen do not hesitate to point out that all interviews are validated by Matignon. “I heard that he was extremely close to the Prime Minister, and that he had a great propensity to win his arbitrations”slips a ministerial advisor. “He was not chosen by chance. He is there to implement the will of the Prime Minister. He is a bit like Michel Barnier’s right leg”confirms LR deputy Olivier Marleix. “The French asked us to take their aspirations into account and 11 million of them voted for the RN in the legislative elections, for less immigration”assumes the minister’s entourage.
The senator’s very right-wing positions are not without interest for a government on permanent reprieve. “By putting Bruno Retailleau in Beauvau, Michel Barnier makes the task more difficult for censorship of the RN”observes a close friend of the minister. With a coalition of only 211 deputies, the “common base” is very far from the absolute majority in the Assembly and relies on the indulgence of the National Rally to survive. “They are convinced in the government that the only alternative is for the RN to abstain, but they are wrong! Many of us in the group keep our values”nevertheless warns an EPR deputy from the left wing.
“We can make all the immigration laws we want, that will not prevent Marine Le Pen from voting for censorship the day she wants.”
A minister of Michel Barnierat franceinfo
In any case, RN officials have a benevolent view of the new minister for the moment. “When we listen to Bruno Retailleau, we have the impression that he is a spokesperson for the RN”comments Lepéniste MP Laure Lavalette on BFMTV. But the far-right party challenges the minister to obtain results, without really believing in them. “I wouldn’t be very surprised if, quite quickly, he frees himself from this burden, which he pretends to say that he has hoped for all his life”slips Marine Le Pen into Pointevoking a possible resignation of Bruno Retailleau.
To last, the tenant of Place Beauvau will therefore have to obtain results fairly quickly, particularly in terms of security. “Everything is not going to happen with the wave of a magic wand”had warned the minister during the transfer of power with Gérald Darmanin, while promising to “restore order”. Bruno Retailleau’s roadmap is ambitious. The 2025 draft budget provides for an increase of nearly 600 million euros in credits dedicated to security, but a pause on staffing levels, which worries police unions. If the minister’s actions do not follow his promises, he could quickly find himself weakened.