Former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, now leader of the Macronist deputies, has made his camp’s participation in the future government conditional on a certain number of clarifications. He is due to meet Michel Barnier soon, after an aborted first meeting.
The meeting, scheduled for 10:30 a.m., ultimately did not take place on Wednesday, September 18. “Postponed”specifies Michel Barnier’s entourage. “At the initiative of Matignon”is keen to highlight Gabriel Attal’s entourage. The former Prime Minister, accompanied by several executives from the Macronist group of deputies, was to meet his successor at Matignon in the hope of obtaining some clarifications. “It’s been a psychodrama since this morning. Matignon has decided to postpone the meeting, still not having validated the principle of a delegation”sighs a deputy from Together for the Republic. “We do not yet have clear visibility on the political line – in particular on possible tax increases – and on the major government balances”explained Gabriel Attal in a message to his troops, revealed Tuesday evening.
And the former tenant of Matignon added: “I inform you that we have requested from the Prime Minister, before the formation of the government, a meeting with a small delegation from our group in order to see things more clearly. It is in the light of these discussions that we will come back to you to decide on our participation in the government.” The presidential camp has chosen to put maximum pressure on Michel Barnier, while the former Brexit negotiator is still trying to put together his government team.
“Those who think that we could not censor a Prime Minister who was appointed by the President of the Republic, because we belong to the camp of the Head of State, we can answer them that the mandate that was given by Emmanuel Macron to Michel Barnier is to unitewarns MP Marc Ferracci. If he were to step away from this political mandate, opposing Michel Barnier and his government would amount to respecting the approach of the head of state.”
Censorship, already promised by the left and brandished like a sword of Damocles by the National Rally, is a weapon that the presidential camp does not forbid itself against Michel Barnier. This is the message conveyed by some Macronists even though the government is not yet known. With 97 deputies, not counting the centrist deputies of the MoDem, the former majority does not intend to give in too easily to the ferocious appetites of Michel Barnier’s political family: The Republicans. Removed from power for twelve years, the right displays its ministerial ambitions, and claims, according to concordant sources, a quarter to a third of the portfolios, including one or two sovereign ministries.
Enough to make many Renaissance parliamentarians choke, who do not fail to point out that Laurent Wauquiez’s deputies are only 47 in the National Assembly. “With 40 deputies, the Republicans seem to have won the elections. If Barnier wants to survive, he must give assurances to the presidential camp.”assured an influential Macronist MP, during his party’s parliamentary days, on September 10. “The LR are taking a step that the socialists have not taken, but they must not be domineering”warned, on the same day, a resigning minister. A point of view widely shared within the group Together for the Republic (EPR).
“The LR have demands that are not in line with their political weight. The EPR group reminds the Prime Minister of its importance in the context of the negotiations.”
Denis Masséglia, EPR MPto franceinfo
Michel Barnier himself said on September 12 that his future government would certainly be “balanced, representative, plural”but also “naturally [avec] his political family”. “The composition of the government is making Michel nervous, it’s uncertain”sighs a close friend of the Prime Minister, acknowledging that he is “is under a lot of pressure from the president and the Macronists.” Since the appointment of Michel Barnier and his troops, Gabriel Attal and his troops have been hammering it home: nothing can be done without them. “There will be no desire on our part to block or unconditional support”wrote Gabriel Attal to the deputies of his camp on September 6. “There is a consensus that the Prime Minister must form a balanced government and share his political line with the parties whose support he seeks”assures a close friend of the former head of government.
On the question of the political line, one subject quickly became a point of tension between Matignon and the presidential camp: public spending and taxes. After seven years of tax cuts, Michel Barnier startled some of his Macronist interlocutors by mentioning an increase in levies. The subject was immediately relayed by Gérald Darmanin, at a meeting of the EPR group on Tuesday. He is “out of the question” of“enter” in a government that raises taxes or even “sustain”assured the resigning Minister of the Interior on France 2 on Wednesday. “Raising taxes is the easy way out”, “I will not participate in a government that is not clear on the issue of taxes”he added.
“The information shared is based solely on hearsayimmediately tried to deny the Prime Minister’s entourage. The only thing the Prime Minister said is that he would not rule out moving towards greater tax justice. That is the only direction.”. But, Matignon then relayed a statement from the Prime Minister on Wednesday which did not ease tensions with the presidential camp. “The budgetary situation of the country that I am discovering is very serious. I have requested all the elements to assess its exact reality”says Michel Barnier, referring to the record of Emmanuel Macron’s former governments.
“This situation deserves better than soundbites. It demands responsibility.”
Michel Barnierstatement transmitted by Matignon
“What is the point of this statement on taxes? Really, we don’t see anything anymorecastigates a Macronist. The audit is a little premature, it is rather that of the future Minister of Economy and Budget who must propose a copy to Matignon and the Elysée”. And the same added: “He was the first to say that he wanted to be in action and be effective, and he should start to form a government by defining a clear line.”
Beyond the fundamental issues, some Macronists evoke “a problem of method” which would explain the deterioration of relations with Michel Barnier. “We have no information on what he is preparing on all subjects, this is not acceptable. In the political context in which we find ourselves, Matignon must prepare its roadmap with the groups that could support it”regrets a resigning minister. “Things are becoming tense because there is a real need to know where the Prime Minister wants to go”adds a Macronist, while a parliamentary source from EPR points out the absence of exchange between Gabriel Attal and Michel Barnier.
“Barnier is doing everything backwards. If he wants a coalition, we cannot avoid the bottom line.”
A minister resignsto franceinfo
It must be said that the relationship between the two politicians is not at its best either. “Gabriel Attal still hasn’t digested the transfer of power and Barnier’s barbs. He won’t get over anything.”slips an EPR deputy. “We will act more than talk”declared Michel Barnier on September 5, assuring that “the government will not pretend to believe that infused science comes only from it.” The newcomer to Matignon had nonchalantly mentioned the “lessons” of his predecessor who had taken the trouble to list, for about twenty minutes, all the pending files and bills that he left on his desk.
“Relations are very good, warm and friendly with Gabriel Attal”insisted Michel Barnier’s entourage a few days later. “It is wrong to suggest that their relationship is strained and that they do not get along well.”assured Gabriel Attal’s entourage on September 10. While insisting on the red lines of the EPR group and the need for the former head of government to ensure the unity of his group. Because behind the composition of the next government, the battle for the next presidential election is also in sight.