When Emmanuel Macron chooses Edouard Philippe’s successor for the post of Prime Minister in July 2020, what is the surprise when he sees Jean Castex appear. What at the time was mocked – his accent, his “Sunday” look – is now to his advantage: we see him as a humble man, hardworking and closer to the French all over France, and certainly not only those of Paris. “Castex, he’s not bothering anyone. He does the job, he has a great popularity. His appointment to Matignon is a miracle for him! He’s a good guy, much healthier than Philippe“, judged a regular interlocutor of the President of the Republic in Point. In The ParisianSame observation, however, with adjustments: do not believe that he is “too” nice, he knows how to impose himself and put forward one of his main priorities, his family.
Tested positive for the coronavirus after being in contact with his 11-year-old daughter, Jean Castex was singled out for his failings, as well as those of the government, in barrier gestures and social distancing. There was no question for the head of government to let this “affair” tarnish his image, he was more than ever immersed in work during his isolation: “Forties organized like a monk’s life, between his office on the first floor of Matignon to advance on his files and a confinement room in private apartments. Between the two, a marked route to avoid coming into contact with any staff on rue de Varenne“, writing The Parisian.
The former mayor of Prades in the Pyrénées-Orientales, happy husband of Sandra and father of four daughters, wants to keep intact this image of a hard worker and a good father. “With the dog Luna (a spaniel) who barks between two doors, like his daughters who sometimes pass in full cabinet meeting “writes the daily.” And there, he stops all business ceasing to give a hug, then he resumes“, specifies an employee.
Unlike Edouard Philippe who has just launched his Horizons party, Jean Castex shows no other future political pretensions, to devote himself 100% to his role as Prime Minister. Trained at Sciences Po and ENA like most of his peers, he does not seem to be “part of the system”. This does not prevent him from having known how to put in their place those who took it “for a con“underlines a minister:”He’s a tough guy. In internal arbitrations, in crisis management, he has often shown formidable and remarkable authority.. “Loyal but”not stupid nor servile“, said another minister. The rest, he will see afterwards, as he had already said before and we understand, he does not really have time in the face of the health crisis experienced by France and the whole world.