The now ex-minister has been replaced by Bérangère Couillard, previously Secretary of State in charge of Ecology. She had received during the week the support of several associations for the defense of women’s rights.
The feminist associative milieu will not have won its case. Wednesday July 19, on the eve of the reshuffle of the government of Elisabeth Borne, uForty associations for the defense of women’s rights, as well as feminist networks and collectives, are asking in a column published on Twitter that the Minister Delegate in charge of Equality between Women and Men, Isabelle Rome, is maintained in her post. Claimant “stability” but also “efficiency”, they believe that “Real progress has been made” these last months.
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This late mobilization did not pay off. Thursday, July 20, the names of incoming and outgoing ministers are shelled over the afternoon. The press learns that Bérangère Couillard, until now Secretary of State in charge of Ecology, replaces Isabelle Rome. The outgoing team learns of its disembarkation only a few minutes before the publication of the Elysée press release at the start of the evening, according to information from franceinfo. Isabelle Rome will only have remained in post for a little over a year.
“This way of doing things is not consistent”
This magistrate by profession, a former senior civil servant for gender equality at the Ministry of Justice, nevertheless had important projects to carry out at the start of the school year, as part of the fight against violence against women, presented as a priority for the five-year term. On the table, in particular, a legislative development to apply to adults the extension of the limitation period provided for minor victims in the event of serial sexual offenses, as well as the aggravation of the penalties incurred in the event of serial rape.
“JI was in contact with her for the registration of my parity bill in the Senate no later than Monday”is surprised Elodie Jacquier-Laforge, vice-president MoDem of the National Assembly, who does not explain his departure. “I do not understand the reasons for his disembarkation, but it is the life of governments, ministers have no guarantees”abounds, a bit of a philosopher, Laurence Rossignol, PS vice-president of the Senate, former Minister of Women’s Rights of François Hollande, and herself a signatory of the platform.
“Isabelle Rome is not a ‘sniper’, but she was committed and knew how to create links with associations. A magistrate was good too, since there are so many things that are tied up in judicial care…”
Laurence Rossignol, socialist senatorat franceinfo
“What bothers me most is the turnover. Changing ministers every year necessarily involves backtracking on files, deplores Anne-Cécile Sarfati, president of the consulting company Actually, signatory of the platform. I have no doubt about the authenticity of the commitment of the president and the government on the subject, but this way of doing things is not consistent.“
“It is a public policy that needs stability. The fact of having ministers who cannot settle in their files, it is regrettable”, supports Yseline Fourtic-Dutarde, co-president of the collective Together against sexism. And to greet Isabelle Rome a minister “listening, efficient, committed and very dedicated to these subjects”.
A minister deemed not enough media
All three insist, however: they have nothing against the new minister, Bérangère Couillard, who “has legitimacy and is not new to these subjects”, according to Anne-Cécile Sarfati. The former Secretary of State for Ecology, member of the High Council for Equality between Women and Men, was the rapporteur for the bill to protect victims of domestic violence.
Still, the reasons for the landing of Isabelle Rome seem, at first sight, very mysterious. The explanation would come, according to a source close to the executive, from his lack of incarnation. Clearly, the minister was not enough media, too little known to the French.
“Isabelle Rome has not been able to carry the great cause of the quinquennium in a sufficiently visible way despite a deployment of means at her disposal never equaled.”
A source close to the executiveat franceinfo
Explanations that clash with this little phrase from the President of the Republic. “Being a minister is not about speaking in office, it is about implementing decisions”said Emmanuel Macron on Fridayduring a filmed introduction to the first post-reshuffle Council of Ministers.
In the ministerial corridors, some also evoke another episode: a clash between Isabelle Rome and Marlène Schiappa. The former emblematic Secretary of State in charge of Equality between women and men from May 2027 to July 2020 had created amazement by posing in the charming magazine Playboy, in early April, in the midst of a pension crisis. Isabelle Rome publicly torpedoes her predecessor in an interview with the Figaro. “I ask myself: why did you choose Playboy to advance women’s rights when this magazine is a compendium of all sexist stereotypes? We are right in the culture of the woman-object”she denounces then.
“They say she was not very political and charismatic”
Words that would not have been well received, according to this ministerial adviser. “She intervenes after the Prime Minister, which is not done, without warning her and criticizes another member of the government. Elisabeth Borne had actually reframed Marlène Schiappa, considering that her presence in the magazine was not “not appropriate”.
In the parliamentary majority, this departure of Isabelle Rome continues to raise questions. “It surprises me and I find it a shame. They say she was not very political and charismatic, but charisma is also about having results and being appreciated by your ecosystem”assures the deputy of the MoDem Erwan Balanant. “Frankly, I don’t understand this landing, abounds a Renaissance deputy. I think others deserved to go before her.” Another elected official from the presidential party does not forget either that Isabelle Rome came from civil society. “She suffered like others the soaping of those who practice politics well, he points out. As soon as a person from civil society enters, if he is not armed, he is cut up.”
Isabella Rome is “stayed on until the last minute”, praises those around him. In addition to the support of associations, it has “received support from fellow ministers, and heavyweights of the macronie were busy behind the scenes”assures this same source. “There are some who are fighting, it’s frankly beautiful”, greets a ministerial adviser. The now ex-minister confided at the time of his transfer of power with Bérangère Couillard from her ministry “heavy heart”.