Imposing his authority at 34 years old has been Gabriel Attal’s challenge for almost two months facing Bruno Le Maire, Gérald Darmanin and Sébastien Lecornu… The Prime Minister is having dinner Thursday evening with his Minister of the Armed Forces.
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This will be the first head-to-head between Gabriel Attal and Sébastien Lecornu. “With the war in Ukraine, there should be no frying on the line” the government is told. A dinner to smooth things over, Thursday March 7 when the name of Sébastien Lecornu had been circulating for Matignon and François Bayrou told everywhere that Gabriel Attal had offered him the Ministry of the Armed Forces. “Sébastien Lecornu was extremely angry that his job was seen as an adjustment variable” , slips an advisor to the executive. Even if on a daily basis, he mainly deals with the head of the Armed Forces – Emmanuel Macron – it is better for the head of government to find a modus vivendi with the Minister of the Armed Forces.
This is also necessary with all the heavyweights in government. There is bound to be jealousy in the air because “Gabriel Attal shattered the criteria to reach the top”, estimates a ministerial advisor. “His strength, observes another, it’s that he flatters their egos, lets them make their announcements, so they can play dukes within the kingdom!”. Sometimes with the risk of being a little crushed between the president and the heavyweights. Bruno Le Maire wants to announce 10 billion savings? Gabriel Attal leaves him willingly. “It’s love between them”, laughs Matignon. They are in constant contact to discuss public finances. Bercy also assures that everything is going well.
No corporalization of ministers
With Gérald Darmanin, we are on another register: a “a pact of non-agression”, summarizes someone close to the Minister of the Interior, with Gérald Darmanin playing his part. In the majority, no one has forgotten that it renamed itself Place Beauvau, and that it announced the end of its lease, after the Olympic Games. But they see each other on Friday. Gabriel Attal and Gérald Darmanin have a meeting every 15 days. “Gabriel Attal’s challenge is to channel those who wanted his place”, explains a close friend of Emmanuel Macron, without forgetting “the news which above all recognizes the authority of the President”. Clearly, Rachida Dati and Catherine Vautrin, with whom the Prime Minister exchanges a lot since work is made a priority.
In fact, Gabriel Attal has opted for management that does not involve the corporalization of ministers. “Gabriel Attal is very clever, confides a minister, he does not seek to crush others.” In any case, can he do otherwise when faced with strong heads? No, this minister decides: “if he had said I’m the boss, Bruno, Gérald, Sébastien you shut up, it was the assurance of disaster in 48 hours”. This is good, because according to someone close to Gabriel Attal “It’s not in his character.”