(Paris) In search of a new breath after the setback suffered in the June legislative elections, President Emmanuel Macron unveiled on Monday the new French government which will be responsible for implementing its reforms without an absolute majority in the National Assembly and facing a rising opposition.
Posted at 2:12 p.m.
The result of intense negotiations, the new team of Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne gives pride of place to the centrist allies of the presidential camp without integrating big moves on the left or on the right, as could have been the case during the first five-year term of the head of the state.
Stunned by the loss of his absolute majority in the lower house of Parliament, Mr. Macron had mentioned at the end of June the option of a “government agreement” bringing together the socialist, environmentalist, communist and right-wing parties, with the exception of the extreme right and the radical left.
Speaking on Monday in the preamble to the first council of ministers of the new executive, the centrist-liberal president considered that it was appropriate to “take note of the lack of will of the parties of government to participate in a government agreement or any form coalition”.
Whatever. The new government is able to “build compromises” and “strengthen, expand the presidential majority, law text by law”, assured his entourage.
Among the highlights of the reshuffle, the departure of Minister Damien Abad (Solidarity, Autonomy and People with Disabilities), targeted by an investigation for attempted rape, who denounced Monday “despicable slander”.
“The conditions of serenity were no longer present,” explained the new government spokesperson Olivier Véran.
Chrysoula Zacharopoulou (Development), targeted by two complaints of rape allegedly committed in the context of her profession as a gynecologist, retains her post.
“Making Europe shine”
As expected, the reshuffle marked the departures of Amélie de Montchalin (Ecological Transition), Brigitte Bourguignon (Health) and Justine Benin (Sea), all three beaten during the legislative elections at the end of June.
PHOTO BERTRAND GUAY, FRANCE-PRESSE AGENCY
The former Minister of Health Brigitte Bourguignon (on the left) is applauded by her successor François Braun and the Minister Delegate for Territorial Organization and Health Personnel Agnès Firmin Le Bodo.
More unexpectedly, the Minister Delegate for Europe Clément Beaune becomes Minister of Transport. He is replaced by the economist Laurence Boone, who assured that she intended to “contribute to making Europe shine”.
The new distribution of government II of Elisabeth Borne, which has a total of 41 members including 20 women, was coolly received by the opposition.
La France insoumise (radical left) denounced a “non-event” while Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally (far right) who made a historic breakthrough in the legislative elections, estimated that Emmanuel Macron “ignored” a “once again the verdict of the polls and the desire of the French for another policy. »
“A trickle of warm water on a molten volcano”, retorted for his part the boss of the socialists Olivier Faure.
Motion of censure
This reshuffle comes in a delicate context for Emmanuel Macron, re-elected on April 24 against the far right.
The Head of State, who had passed his reforms generally without difficulty during his first five-year term, will this time have to forge alliances on a case-by-case basis to try to pass his flagship measures.
The first two texts to be examined by the Assembly will be the health bill, from July 11, followed by the bill on purchasing power from July 18.
On June 25, the president had indicated to AFP that the presidential project, like that of the presidential majority, could “be amended or enriched”, provided however that the modifications do not lead to an increase in taxes or the debt.
Elisabeth Borne’s general policy speech on Wednesday before Parliament is a baptism of fire for the head of government, who will not seek the confidence of parliamentarians.
Denouncing this decision, the radical left announced its intention to table a motion of censure, which to be adopted and lead to the resignation of the government, must be approved by an absolute majority of deputies (289).