Despite the rejection of the motion of censure, the question of a reshuffle remains on the table. The “civil society” ministers risk being the first victims. Jean-Rémi Baudot’s political brief.
There are two observations within the executive. The first: we will have to draw the consequences of the management of the pension reform. “We have to redefine the priorities and change the team”, theorizes an adviser. The idea of a reshuffle, in the short term, is rising more and more: “8 to 9 chances in 10″, predicts a minister from Bercy.
>> Pension reform: find out which deputies voted for the motions of censure against the government
The second observation is that the government has not been able to sell this reform. A priori, Elisabeth Borne is not threatened for the time being, but it is said that the government would not be efficient enough. “Not political enough is the word that comes up often. A way of saying: not experienced enough, not experienced enough in games and the traps of power, not enough strategist. An observation that comes mainly from so-called “political” ministers, those who have known the ropes for a long time and who do not hesitate to instruct their colleagues from civil society.
“Political” ministers want to regain control
This civil society touch was nevertheless the hallmark of Macronism. Finally, especially from the first five-year term. Today, career politicians are thinking about post-Macron and want to regain control. And the ambitious deputies stamp their feet too. In their mouths, the alleged culprits are therefore named Eric Dupond-Moretti, Pap Ndiaye, François Braun, Agnès Pannier-Runacher or even Jean-Christophe Combe.
Everyone will judge whether this is justified, but, despite sometimes their skills on the merits of the files, these “civil society” ministers of the government of Elisabeth Borne are accused of not embodying enough. Faced with an opposition that is precisely very political, often noisy, they would not weigh enough to impose themselves.
“Technicians, it works in absolute majority“, tackles an adviser. “We need to clean up the government.” even allows a Renaissance deputy. Critics, while the few laws that have passed since June, without 49.3, have often been negotiated by “civil society” ministers.
Political weight often outweighs expertise
And today, the latter do not yet prepare their boxes, but many are bitter. Like this minister who recently confided: “It’s paradoxical to ask people to burst the screen without giving them the means“. Or this other minister who recalls that for years she has been away from all subjects that directly or indirectly affect her former professional life. In case she had to return there overnight.
This little anti-civil society music is the illustration of an executive where only a few ministers exist. Very political and very media-oriented ministers, such as Gérald Darmanin, Bruno Le Maire, Gabriel Attal or Olivier Véran. An executive where only the measures embodied by the President find an echo. So, obviously, in this context, political weight often outweighs expertise.