Emanuel Macron”don’t row, he takes his time“, assured Monday May 9 Christophe Castaner on franceinfo. If the Head of State was re-elected President of the Republic two weeks ago, he has still not announced the name of his Prime Minister and the members of his future government.
If Emmanuel has already put on his presidential clothes, with in particular an expected speech in Strasbourg on Europe Day, before a first official trip to Berlin, this Monday, what about the government of Jean Castex? If some sneer passing the latter to absent subscribers, in fact, ministers and secretaries of state dispatch “current affairs”. But what does this term mean?
Do not immediately forget the names of Jean Castex and his ministers. They will not resign before Friday 13 at 11:59 p.m., the official end of Emmanuel Macron’s first term, if we are to believe the latest statements by Gabriel Attal, current government spokesperson. Until then, therefore, they will manage – even expedite – “current affairs”: this is what a government must do on a daily basis, unlike strategic decisions, to allow the state machine to run. This therefore makes it possible to ensure the continuity of the public service.
Most of the time, current affairs are dispatched by a government which has just resigned while awaiting the appointment of the next one. That said, this notion can also concern local authorities, such as a municipal council that has resigned. And when we dispatch “current affairs”, we cannot do everything.
So understand that the outgoing government will not launch anything during this period: it will not launch a bill, for example. He will just make decisions on which he is not likely to have any differences with the team that will succeed him. For example, the ministers no longer sign decrees, which does not prevent the ministries from taking some decisions, however, because they continue to operate: orders and circulars are still initialed by the directors of administrations. On the other hand, before the government resigns, the last Council of Ministers can adopt decrees, pass current ordinances and make appointments.
If there was an attack or a sudden aggravation of the crisis in Ukraine or a sudden health crisis, for example, the Prime Minister could ask for more powers, because it would be a question of managing a “present” situation. He could thus increase the number of police, assign people to residence, and even declare a state of emergency.
Only a few days when it comes to government of the 5th Republic. Thus, according to information from franceinfo, the appointment of the replacement for Jean Castex will take place quickly after the departure of the current tenant of Matignon. For the ministers, it will take at least two more days, the time for their assets to be examined by the High Authority for the transparency of public life. If all goes well, this would give an announcement and a first Council of Ministers in mid-May.
On the other hand, under the 4th Republic, which was more politically unstable with alliances, reversals of alliances and governmental crises, these periods could last several weeks. There is a country which broke a record in this area in its recent history: it is Belgium. With some 16 months of crisis ending in October 2020, there was therefore no officially appointed government during this period and, therefore, it was as much time in “current affairs”.