Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation of the one who led the government since the president was re-elected in May 2022.
New year and new Prime Minister. Emmanuel Macron decided to reshuffle the government on Monday January 8, starting with the person who heads it. Elisabeth Borne, holder of the position since the re-election of the head of state in May 2022, submitted her resignation to the President of the Republic, who accepted it.
The one who joined the executive in 2017 leaves Matignon with “honor” to have led “a government team which has determinedly carried out essential reforms for our country and our fellow citizens”, she wrote in her resignation letter. Franceinfo looks back in five figures on its visit to rue de Varenne, during which it was constantly called into question, outside but also inside the presidential camp.
602 The number of days spent in Matignon
Elisabeth Borne spent one year, seven months and twenty-three days in Matignon, from May 2022 to January 2024. She is the fifth longest-lived Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic, behind Bernard Cazeneuve, Edith Cresson, Maurice Couve de Murville and Pierre Bérégovoy, who spent less time than her in what is commonly called “the hell of Matignon”. Elisabeth Borne remained in office almost twice as long as Edith Cresson (323 days), the only other woman to have held these functions since 1958 and the birth of the current Republic.
41 The number of bills passed
This is one of the satisfactions displayed by Elisabeth Borne when leaving Matignon on Monday evening. “I worked to have financial texts adopted, under unprecedented conditions in Parliament, including pension reform, the law relating to immigration and more than fifty laws which respond to the challenges of our country”writes the former Prime Minister in her letter to Emmanuel Macron.
In total, 41 bills and six packages of measures were adopted, according to the National Assembly website. In addition to the two emblematic reforms on pensions and immigration, texts are included on purchasing power (summer 2022), on nuclear power (spring 2023) and even post-riot reconstruction (summer 2023).
23 The number of recourses to article 49.3
Elisabeth Borne’s time at Matignon was marked by frequent use of article 49.3 of the Constitution, which allows a text to be adopted without a vote in the National Assembly. In front of the deputies, with a relative majority in front of her, the head of government triggered this constitutional “weapon” 23 times. Only Michel Rocard, Prime Minister from May 1988 to May 1991, used it more often (28 times). But on average, it is the former leader of the RATP who is ahead of the ex-socialist with a 49.3 drawn every 26 days since May 2022.
31 The number of motions of censure faced
How did Elisabeth Borne manage to stay at Matignon for so long? Since the transfer of power with Jean Castex, the Prime Minister has had to face 31 motions of censure. So many responses to the recurring recourse to article 49.3 to have government texts adopted. But none managed to be adopted by the National Assembly and bring down the Prime Minister. The fault is often divided oppositions, between the Nupes, the Republicans and the National Rally. On the other hand, a rejection motion resembling a symbolic defeat for the government was adopted before the debate on the immigration bill in mid-December.
54 The number of ministers under his command
The message comes back to each government formation. According to the Elysée, the head of state would like to put in place a tighter government. But each time, the executive grows as portfolio assignments are made and often exceeds 40 members. Elisabeth Borne is no exception to this rule: since spring 2022, no less than 54 ministers, delegated ministers and secretaries of state have succeeded one another within the government. Two reshuffles without a change of Prime Minister took place, in July 2022 and July 2023, also with several ministerial adjustments, depending on the political vagaries which shook up the executive. Until the end of the Borne government, anticipated after the painful adoption of the immigration bill in December 2023.