If François Bayrou wishes to bring together profiles “from all backgrounds but determined to work together” in his future government, he remains unclear about the timing and does not wish to rush too much.
Matignon is boiling. This Monday, December 16, François Bayrou begins a series of consultations by receiving, on rue de Varenne, the presidents of the parliamentary groups, in order of numerical importance. Marine Le Pen (RN), Gabriel Attal (EPR), Boris Vallaud (PS) and Laurent Wauquiez (LR) open the ball, before a second salvo the next day, with the leaders of the Ecologists, MoDem, Horizons, LIOT, GDR and UDR. For its part, LFI declined the invitation.
These consultations aim to find compromises for Béarnais, where his predecessor failed according to thevice-president of the National Assembly, Roland Lescure: “Michel Barnier wanted to move quickly, which was insufficiently worked on”, he judges at the microphone of RTL. Compromises, yes, but for when? Within the security guard of the new tenant of Matignon, the tendency is not to rush.
No new government before 2025?
The announcement of the future government team could well take several weeks. “In an ideal world, it would be before Christmas, but it will be difficult to hold,” said a source close to the Prime Minister to Politico. Unlike the strategy deployed by Emmanuel Macron – aiming to give a precise timetable for the appointment of his head of government – François Bayrou is scaling back. While the “special law”making it possible to maintain the State’s tax revenues and ensure its functioning until the vote on a next budget in 2025 is examined in the National Assembly this Monday, the future government should not be appointed until the beginning of next year .
Especially since the negotiations are in full swing behind the scenes. With a view to openness, François Bayrou casts a wide net to form his“government bringing together experienced men and women who know what the daily life of the French is like”, as specified in La Tribune Dimanche. According to information from L’Opinion, the socialist Jérôme Guedj was approached for the Ministry of Health. The names of Pierre Moscovici and the former socialist mayor of Dijon, François Rebsamen also return with insistence.“If he asked me, I would be willing. But I do not want to be the only left-wing guarantor of this government,” explained the second quoted in the columns of Le Figaro. With this type of profile, it would be a potential trans-partisan team, responsible for overcoming divisions and working towards a non-censorship agreement.
At the same time, the Prime Minister also wants to see Macronist leaders included in his executive’s organizational chart. This is why Gérald Darmanin could well make his return. Sébastien Lecornu (Armies), Rachida Dati (Culture) and Catherine Vautrin are in a good position to keep their place.According to information from Le Figaro, François Bayrou also “exchanged a lot” with Elisabeth Borne, former Prime Minister.She had even “refused the Army portfolio at the start of the year, a consolation prize that Emmanuel Macron offered her by removing her from Matignon”, reports the daily. According to a relative of the Calvados MP, “it is likely that she will accept” a position in the new Bayrou executive. It now remains to know the name of the targeted, hoped for and/or granted portfolio.