The reshuffle announced in France for the start of the week was long overdue. And for good reason, François Bayrou, who was acquitted in the affair of the parliamentary assistants of European deputies on Monday and who was expected to join the government, made it known on Wednesday evening February 7 that this would not be the case.
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The political beast that François Bayrou had muted for seven years, the time to have a court decision in the affair of the Modem parliamentary assistants, has resurfaced. The mayor of Pau announced through Agence France Presse that he “ would not enter the government ” mistake ” in deep agreement on the policy to follow “.
François Bayrou identifies two areas in which the differences in approach with Emmanuel Macron, of whom he has been the main ally since 2017, are prohibitive for him: “education” and “the gulf that has widened between the province and Paris” . He declares having refused the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
Read alsoFrance: MoDem president François Bayrou acquitted in the MEP assistants affair
A surge of pressure or a real political break in the majority?
François Bayrou had disapproved of the arrival of Gabriel Attal at Matignon and the right-wing inflection of the first wave of ministerial appointments. Refreshed by his relaxation, he therefore wants to make his voice heard. The question is what is at stake behind this balance of power.
A Renaissance MP wonders if he wants “ bring up his guys » to the government or “ untie your hands for the future “. What follows is after Macron, the 2027 presidential election to which François Bayrou has never quite closed the door. It is a question of knowing whether it is a piece of pressure or a real political break in the majority.