The time for rumours, which always swirl around during redesigns, has come to an end. The executive unveiled, this Thursday, July 20, the “adjustments” made in the government team of Elisabeth Borne, after the Prime Minister was herself confirmed in her post earlier in the week by Emmanuel Macron.
Aurélien Rousseau, former chief of staff of Elisabeth Borne at Matignon, is appointed Minister of Health to replace François Braun. Before joining the Prime Minister’s office last year, this 47-year-old enarque, from the left, had headed the Île-de-France Regional Health Agency during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also passed, previously, by the cabinet of the former mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoe, then with the Socialist Prime Ministers Manuel Valls and Bernard Cazeneuve.
Confirming the whispers of the last few days, Pap Ndiaye, who in the eyes of his colleagues has not succeeded in making his mark for a year, is no longer Minister of National Education. His portfolio is recovered by Gabriel Attal, currently in Public Accounts. Youngest minister in 2017 in the history of the Fifth Republic, he now becomes the youngest tenant on rue de Grenelle. Its guideline: place authority at the heart of the educational project after the recent urban violence. Gabriel Attal is replaced in the Public Accounts by the Renaissance deputy for Gironde Thomas Cazenave.
Schiappa leaves the government
Aurore Bergé, president of the Renaissance group in the National Assembly, replaces Jean-Christophe Combe, former director general of the French Red Cross, at the Ministry of Solidarity. Coming from the ranks of the right, the 36-year-old MP, reputed to be combative and divisive, has imposed herself over time in macronie since her election in 2017.
Marlène Schiappa is doing the opposite. The Secretary of State in charge of the Social and Solidarity Economy is leaving the government, her more than chaotic management of the Marianne Fund having surely weighed in the balance in her departure. Jean-François Carenco also cedes his post as Minister for Overseas Territories to MoDem MP Philippe Vigier, a choice already criticized by overseas elected officials according to several sources familiar with the matter. Aged 65, this doctor of pharmacy and biologist by profession, deputy since 2007, is not a specialist in overseas territories and his appointment is “a very bad signal” regrets to AFP the deputy from Guyana Davy Rimane (GDR group, majority communist), president of the overseas delegation.
Difficult negotiations
Another change, on the side of the City: Sabrina Agresti-Roubache, deputy of Bouches-du-Rhône for a year and close to the Macron couple, replaces Olivier Klein, the former city councilor of Clichy. The mayor of Dunkirk Patrice Vergriete is himself appointed Minister of Housing, a portfolio also managed until now by Olivier Klein. Olivier Véran, a time given on the departure, remains government spokesman.
Fadila Khattabi, the president of the Social Affairs Commission, becomes Minister Delegate for Disability, attached to the Ministry of Solidarity, replacing Geneviève Darrieusecq. Sarah El Haïry, until now Secretary of State in charge of Youth and Universal National Service, gives up her post to MP Prisca Thevenot and becomes Secretary of State for Biodiversity. Bérangère Couillard, until now Secretary of State in charge of Ecology, is also changing morocco: she is now in charge of Equality between Women and Men, in place of Isabelle Rome.
Negotiations on the names of incoming and outgoing have been long and difficult between Matignon and the Elysée. The head of government, according to certain ministers and advisers, hoped for a substantial renewal to establish her authority. The head of state, he only wanted marginal changes to keep the cartridge of a great upheaval for more difficult times. “The more we advance, the fewer ministers there are who come out,” slipped a ministerial adviser Thursday at midday.
“What interests the French is not to know if we are going to replace strangers with other strangers”, tackled on France 2 the deputy Les Républicains Pierre-Henri Dumont, estimating “that by keeping the same Prime Minister, we can see very well that the course has no chance of being changed”. “It matters little to me who is going to get on the Titanic”, also quipped on Cnews the coordinator of La France insoumise, Manuel Bompard.
A Council of Ministers bringing together the new team and chaired by Emmanuel Macron will take place on Friday at 10 a.m.