Gabriel Attal, a stable government with a right-wing tinge

Behind closed doors at the Élysée, this Thursday, January 11 at midday, Emmanuel Macron and Gabriel Attal are looking into the latest details of the new government. This is the fourth meeting of this type since the appointment of Elisabeth Borne's successor at Matignon on Tuesday. After two days of negotiations, the two men agreed around the table: they wanted a team that embodies the right-left “overcoming”, “enlargement” and “regeneration” dear to the head of state, in the hope of relaunching a five-year term considered bogged down.

At 7:45 p.m., from the presidential palace, the secretary general of the Élysée, Alexis Kohler, lists the names of fourteen full-time ministers and delegates. “Me, what I want is action, action, action,” insists Gabriel Attal a little later on TF1’s “20 Heures,” promising to “respond to the problems of French” and to lower taxes for the middle classes. The new prime minister calls for a government of “efficiency”, “energy” and “sobriety”. Understand: tightened, to a point unprecedented under the Fifth Republic. A temporary achievement, before the appointment of other delegated ministers and secretaries of state.

Symbol of a right-wing of Emmanuel Macron's system, to the great dismay of his left wing, his partner François Bayrou and the champions of "original Macronism", a surprise has gripped the presidential camp. Former Sarkozy Minister of Justice Rachida Dati returns, replacing Rima Abdul Malak at Culture. This transfer of the boss of the Parisian right, despite her indictment in the Renault affair, created astonishment. Gabriel Attal defended “a woman of commitment” and highlighted the “presumption of innocence”. Another former Sarkozyst is propelled to the head of a large social pole bringing together Work, Health and Solidarity: the ex-LR president of Grand Reims, Catherine Vautrin. A draft, a year and a half after the fiasco of his real false nomination at Matignon.

Rare faithful to Emmanuel Macron entering the government, the boss of the Renaissance party, Stéphane Séjourné, inherits Foreign Affairs following Catherine Colonna. An operation which changes the equation of the European elections of June 9: the leader of the Renew group in the European Parliament was favorite to lead the list of the Macron camp. If he promised to keep control of the presidential team, he intends to “step aside” from steering the European elections “during the campaign”.

In the name of continuity, several members of Élisabeth Borne's team are retained in their ministries. Gérald Darmanin and Bruno Le Maire, who challenged Gabriel Attal by claiming in advance to remain in place, are retaining their portfolio. The first remains Inside. While Bercy remains in the fold of the second, which announced to Le Figaro to recover Energy, without the fate of Agnès Pannier-Runacher being known. Also reappointed were Sébastien Lecornu (Army), Éric Dupond-Moretti (Justice), Marc Fesneau (Agriculture), Christophe Béchu (Ecological Transition) and Sylvie Retailleau (Higher Education).

Among those promoted, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra is expanding her portfolio from Sports to Education, left fallow by the short-lived stint of Gabriel Attal. This is also the case of Prisca Thevenot, new government spokesperson in place of Olivier Véran, now cited to take the lead in the European list. His name does not appear among the nominees, nor those of Olivier Dussopt (Labour) and Franck Riester (Relations with Parliament). Which hands over its functions to the deputy Marie Lebec, the youngest member of the executive at 33 years old.

To defend his choices, Emmanuel Macron will “probably” speak next week, explains one of his advisors. Once the transfer of power has been organized, Gabriel Attal will participate in his first Council of Ministers on Friday morning in his new clothes. He must also receive the “living forces” of his majority. Those that he will have to coordinate in the Assembly, where he will deliver a general policy speech - without guaranteeing that it will be followed by a vote of confidence. Those he will also try to take to the Europeans against lepenist Jordan Bardella.