Several right-wing figures have been mentioned to replace Eric Dupond-Moretti as Minister of Justice, including a resigning minister responsible for another portfolio.
If it is promised during the week, the new government that will take place around Michel Barnier might not be named “before Sunday” according to the analysis of the LR spokesperson, Vincent Jeanbrun. The Prime Minister is currently continuing his consultations, whether with the right, the center, or the left. And now, it is time for predictions. So, will Eric Dupond-Moretti stay in office? Who will replace him at the Ministry of Justice if he were to leave the ship? Elements of an answer.
Retailleau, rather than the Interior?
“In the little game of speculation”, The Point put forward the name of Bruno Retailleau. The nomination of Michel Barnier having reshuffled the cards, the leader of the LR senators would be expected for different positions, such as the Interior, the Economy and… Justice. “It would oscillate between the Interior and Justice”, also advanced an LR senator to Public Senate. But a barnierist was leaning towards it on Sunday, in his confidences to Pointrather for Beauvau: “Bruno embodies a hard right, that might displease the magistrates, who are still very much on the left…” Problem, if Bruno Retailleau were appointed to the Ministry of the Interior, there would be “no question of keeping a Dupond-Moretti or someone who is not on his line as Minister of Justice”, warned Les Républicains. Another close friend of the Prime Minister, however, brushed aside to Public Sénat that, according to his information, the hypothesis of Bruno Retailleau at Justice seemed rather to hold the rope.
Vautrin acclaimed by Macron, Szpiner cited
Unless a completely different name finally comes out of the hat? The lawyer Francis Szpinerelected LR senator since 2023, has indeed also been mentioned. A loyal supporter of Michel Barnier from the very beginning, he is described by a Les Républicains parliamentarian as “the right-wing Éric Dupond-Moretti”, relays Public Sénat. But “if we have a Retailleau in Justice, we cannot have a Szpiner in Justice too”, concedes this same source. So why not the resigning Minister of Labor, Catherine Vautrin ? This is the latest hypothesis put forward in the indiscretions of the Point. Coming from the LR, she would be favored by Emmanuel Macron, who would like to keep her. Rachida Dati (Culture), could also apply for the Ministry of Justice since she already held the post under Nicolas Sarkozy but would rather be mentioned for the spokesperson, that is to say a role of minister delegate to Matignon.