“We have to manage the stress of waiting, because we want to stay.” This former member of the Borne government, who hopes to find a ministerial role, perfectly sums up the atmosphere that reigns in the corridors of power. On January 11, fourteen portfolios were allocated in the government of Gabriel Attal. These are the most political ministers, with the most important functions, who will occupy the center of the media scene. But after the composition of this “XV of France” praised by Emmanuel Macron’s entourage, the announcement of the rest of the team is still awaited, Saturday January 20.
Initially planned two weeks later, around January 25, this second wave will finally intervene only after Gabriel Attal’s general policy declaration, which should take place on January 30, franceinfo learned from the executive. That’s three weeks of beating. Enough to fuel rumors, speculation and concerns among the 27 outgoing ministers.
“There will inevitably be some disappointed people.”
A Renaissance MPat franceinfo
Many would see again “their ambitions are falling due to super-ministries” created during this reshuffle, says a former advisor to the executive. Ministerial perimeters will merge in order to “not to exceed 30 ministers in total”, assures a leading member of the government to France Télévisions. If certain personalities are not expected to be part of the final team, such as the former Minister of Culture Rima Abdul Malak, or the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and diplomat Catherine Colonna, the vast majority of leavers hope to leave for a tour .
“Until the last minute, everything can change”
While waiting for the white smoke, which should take the form of a press release from the Elysée, various strategies are competing to try to save his place in government. First there are those who do not hesitate to be very offensive in order to defend their old territory. This is the case of Stanislas Guerini, Minister of Transformation and Public Service in the Borne government. On Monday, Emmanuel Macron confirmed, before his parliamentary majority, that “Stan” would have the task of “to carry” the delicate reform of the civil service. He should therefore retain his portfolio, but without the assurance of remaining a full minister. “The minister has ruled out the prospect of his ministry being a delegated ministry” however, argued his entourage to franceinfo before the president’s short sentence.
In government, he could find his ex-colleague Agnès Pannier-Runacher. The one who was Minister of Energy Transition will become Minister Delegate for Health, franceinfo learned as soon as the first wave of the reshuffle is known. “What madness to have accepted or wanted her position to be made public so soon. She allows the entire health sector to organize a referendum for or against her appointment before the announcement” observes a former ministerial advisor. “Either it’s very clever, or it’s complete bullshit”, asks a Renaissance MP. Because “until the last minute, everything can change”recalls a regular in ministerial corridors.
In this particular period, those leaving are using the media to play their card to the fullest. Bérangère Couillard, replaced at Gender Equality by Aurore Bergé, assured France 3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine that she had been offered a position in the future government by the Prime Minister. “Another mission will be assigned to me, but it takes time.”explained Girondine with certainty, two days after the reshuffle.
A shower of notes for the Elysée
Other ministers, more cautious, do not abandon the political terrain. “The wait is not insurmountable on my side, because I remain very attentive to news about solidarity and disability”assures Fadila Khattabi, former minister delegate in charge of these issues, “rather confident” regarding its possible renewal. “I meet parliamentarians, because it is essential to listen to them”, also slips Dominique Faure, while waiting to know if she is reappointed to Territorial Communities and Rural Affairs. Many “exes” don’t hesitate to pass notes to show their involvement. “My minister sent the president and the Elysée an assessment and prospects for remaining in place”, explains a former advisor. The goal ? Imagine the continuation of the ministerial adventure.
“I already have a two-page note, with a common thread, a sort of road map for the coming days and weeks. If I am not renamed, I will pass it on to the successor.”
Dominique Faure, former Minister for Local Authorities and Rural Affairsat franceinfo
But, for some of the ministers who arrived waiting to be reappointed, the period is also conducive to taking a step back from the whirlwind of ministerial work. “I arm myself with patienceslips one of them. I do sports to get in shape. And I see my friends!” Same story with one of his ex-comrades, who “enjoy your family” far from the Council of Ministers. For her part, Sarah El Haïry (Biodiversity), who has just given birth, ensures that “everything is fine”between diapers and bottles.
However, negotiations are never very far away. “They are all pushing their pawns”, mocks an advisor. This low-profile strategy also applies to majority parliamentarians who wish to enter government. “We have to talk about the substance, and I feed on the substance”assures one of them. “I sent the message again to get Transport”declares another bluntly.
The assurance of some, the uncertainties of others
Many are still in the dark. “My minister has no assurances about anything. He wants to stay in his post, but Alexis Kohler [le secrétaire général de l’Elysée] told him all options were on the table.”we deliver in the entourage of a leaver. “Mine spoke with Attal, but she didn’t have a firm answer, it was ‘We’re thinking, we’ll come back to you'”confides another. “But, I think they will look for stability”hopes the same, secretly.
There remain a few certainties: at the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, headed by the indestructible Bruno Le Maire, there should not be a huge amount of change. Roland Lescure, former Minister Delegate in charge of Industry, should be reappointed to his post, or even recover the Energy portfolio, which must be attached to Bercy, according to several majority sources. Thomas Cazenave, at Public Accounts, should also find his morocco. The former Minister Delegate in charge of Housing, Patrice Vergriete, former mayor of Dunkirk and supporter of the left wing of the macronie, should also be part of the Attal government, just like Sabrina Agresti-Roubache, close to the Macron couple and ex- Secretary of State for Citizenship and the City. “It’s a star”even slips a close friend of the Head of State about him.
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, taken over by the boss of Renaissance, Stéphane Séjourné, things are much more uncertain for Olivier Becht, formerly in Foreign Trade, Laurence Boone, former Secretary of State for Europe, or Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, former Secretary of State for the Francophonie. “At the dock [d’Orsay]they did not print”, snaps a former government advisor. Other former ministers who are more in the media could also not find a place in the government. Olivier Véran, replaced as government spokesperson, is cited as a potential head of the European list. Franck Riester, formerly in Relations with Parliament and whose portfolio has already been assigned to Marie Lebec, “will not be drafted and will become a deputy again”believes a source within the majority.
And then there is the case of Clément Beaune, a Macronist from the start, former advisor to the president, but who made his qualms heard about the immigration bill, deeply irritating the presidential camp. “The episode left its mark”, assures an advisor to the executive. Many of them do not see him reappointed, and have interpreted his tweet of thanks as a desire to turn the ministerial page. According to our information, this left wing figure is nevertheless waiting for a proposal from the executive.
The demands of MoDem and the blues of advisors
This long wait weighs on the morale of the troops. “It’s the mega-blues in the cabs”, sighs a former advisor. With 27 ministers on the floor, there are some 300 members of ministerial cabinets who do not know if they will be drafted. Some still have access to their offices and see each other daily, while others remain at home. “We eat together every lunchtime, but officially, we are unemployed”says one of them. “We check on each other, it’s a weird situation”, continues another. “It’s the game, you have to accept it, but it’s very difficult,” says another ex-advisor. So everyone kills time, observing the ballet of the ambitions of some and the pressures of others.
The MoDem and the left wing of Renaissance, unhappy with the first wave of appointments which, according to them, leans too far to the right, hope for a rebalancing and do not hesitate to make it known throughout Paris. “The exercise is difficult: you have to show enough muscles to get the message across to the executive and even to public opinion, but without appearing like a bad player or sulky”says a MoDem deputy, who claims to be “fell from his chair” discovering “the cast of 14”. “We are going to be very attentive, the Prime Minister has every interest in listening to us carefully. The nice care bear side is over”even warns another.
“We try to have no less than four ministers, as in the Borne government, or even one more.”
A MoDem deputyat franceinfo
Something to annoy at Renaissance. “[François] Bayrou makes a fool of himself”shoots a deputy from the presidential party about the boss of the MoDem. “He claims to have a major influence on the strong choices of the Palace [de l’Elysée], but he finds himself powerless. He must stop comparing his political weight to the number of secretaries of state he has.” Unsurprisingly, the prospect of reshuffle exacerbates tensions between the different sensitivities of the majority.
Nothing to worry the president, on the contrary. “When he presents his wishes to parliamentarians last Monday, he is jubilant, because he is regaining control. When he says that Stanislas Guerini will carry out the reform as minister, it creates a shock for us, it fuels the expectation”, relates a Renaissance deputy. Failing to be able to run again in 2027, Emmanuel Macron continues to keep his camp under pressure thanks to his power of appointment. “This is how you hold people”smiles a heavyweight from the majority.