How to govern… or rather how to regain control? Two days after the legislative elections which marked a real setback for Emmanuel Macron, the Head of State takes the political initiative. After the defeat, it is therefore time for major maneuvers at the Élysée, with two days of consultations.
>> Legislative 2022: follow the political news live
Demining operation for the Head of State, who absolutely must conclude alliances in order to avoid the risk of blocking his reforms in the Assembly. It is the boss of the Republicans, Christian Jacob, who will open the ball from 10 a.m. this Tuesday, before, in order of appearance, Olivier Faure (PS), François Bayrou (Modem), Stanislas Guerini (LREM), Marine Le Pen (RN) and Fabien Roussel (PCF) at 6:30 p.m., before others on Wednesday such as the leader of the EELV party Julien Bayou. At LFI, Jean-Luc Mélenchon will not move: it is the number two Adrien Quatennens and the deputy Mathilde Panot who will meet the head of state, indicated Tuesday morning the deputy LFI Eric Coquerel on franceinfo.
E. Macron welcomes party leaders to the Elysée ➡️ Olivier Faure will “tell him that the country is doing badly, is angry but that it is not blocked. There are possible policies. If he wants to raise the Smic to €1,500, revalue retirement pensions, we will be there.” pic.twitter.com/QKHwKBGLza
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) June 21, 2022
One key question remains: what will these consultations be used for? Emmanuel Macron’s entourage brandishes the “higher interest of the nation”: a dialogue to build solutions in the service of the French, and above all, find project alliances to try to pass the first texts expected in Parliament, and especially on priority number 1 of the moment: purchasing power. The objective is above all to avoid the scenario feared by the Head of State: a blockage of the Assembly which would force the executive to stand still. But no question of “pact, coalition or agreement of any kind with the macronists“has already warned Christian Jacob.
The right that the executive once again dreams of splitting, while Jean-François Copé, the mayor of Meaux, calls again for a “government pact“, just like Gaël Perdriau, LR mayor of Saint-Etienne or even Catherine Vautrin. But the President of Greater Reims, a time approached for Matignon, has already left Les Républicains.
With these consultations, Emmanuel Macron also wants to occupy the political and media field. The idea was indeed discussed during a summit lunch at the Elysée Palace on Monday, June 20. Emmanuel Macron, Elisabeth Borne, but also the more essential allies than ever, François Bayrou for the Modem, Edouard Philippe for Horizons, were around the table.
And all noted that these consultations were necessary just before a long international sequence for the Head of State: European Council in Brussels at the end of the week, Germany, Spain, Portugal next week, then G7 and NATO summits , UN conference on the oceans. A way of effectively shining the spotlight on the Elysée when they are on the Assembly, when the deputies of the Nupes of Jean-Luc Melenchon and the RN of Marine le Pen enter in force at the Palais Bourbon.
Another puzzle with unknown firsts for Emmanuel Macron: he must also think about a new government. First element: Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne submitted her resignation to the president on Tuesday June 21 after 9 a.m., who refused it “so that the government can stay on task and act in these days“, announced Tuesday morning the Elysée. It is a tradition, already respected in particular by François Fillon in 2007, Jean-Marc Ayrault in 2012, Edouard Philippe in 2017. A tradition, yes, but not an obligation, decided on Monday his entourage who hastened to argue: “The head of government is in combat, she has a lot of projects to manage“. And a government source adds: “Changing Prime Minister will not change the balance in the Assembly“.
And then, the question of the calendar of the reorganization arises: there will be one, it is a certainty, and even two. First there is an adjustment to replace the three defeated ministers. Starting with Brigitte Bourguignon, the Minister of Health, in the midst of a hospital crisis and in the midst of an epidemic rebound, then Amélie de Montchalin who embodied the Ecological Transition and finally Justine Benin, Secretary of State for the Sea. time, a larger reshuffle is looming, for portfolios hitherto not allocated, such as housing, transport, digital or veterans, in particular… Not to mention the case of Damien Abad, the Minister of Solidarity accused rapes, although no investigation has been opened.