MINISTER OF JUSTICE. In place at the Ministry of Justice for almost two years, Éric Dupond-Moretti would like to keep his post but he seems to be closer to the exit. Who could be appointed to replace him? Names circulate.
Minister of Justice, Éric Dupond-Moretti would like to remain so, but it is not up to the experienced lawyer to decide. Elisabeth Borne, Prime Minister since May 16, 2022 and Emmanuel Macron reflect on the composition of the new government by weighing the pros and cons for each minister in place and each personality likely to enter the executive. In order not to be accused of immobility, they have no choice but to part with certain leading ministers and Éric Dupond-Moretti is on this list. His recent indictment for illegal taking of interest, a new case to add to those that punctuated the mandate of the former tenor of the bar, could justify the non-renewal of the Keeper of the Seals in the government. If the name of Éric Dupond-Moretti seems removed from the list, that of Rémy Heitz, the current public prosecutor at the Paris Court of Appeal, circulates in the corridors just like that of Catherine Vautrin, already mentioned to become Prime Minister.
Why Éric Dupond-Moretti should not remain Minister of Justice?
Éric Dupond-Moretti likes to head the Ministry of Justice, but his mandate as Keeper of the Seals, which began in July 2020, could end shortly. The minister does not appear among the renewable profiles in the government, in particular at Place Vendôme. Aware that it is more likely that he will be thanked, the lawyer would “force at the Elysée” according to the indiscretions of theObs. Not sure, however, that this is enough because after a controversial appointment, his mandate was punctuated by accusations of conflicts of interest, in particular vis-à-vis the national financial prosecutor’s office with whom he is on bad terms and over which he has authority. Recently, he was indicted for illegal taking of interest which pushes him a little more towards the exit according to the bets of the JDD and of France info.
Who could become Minister of Justice?
Unless the situation turns around, a new name should be appointed Minister of Justice. Several surnames were mentioned but one option would be more recurrent than the others according to theObs : that of Rémy Heitz, the attorney general of the Paris Court of Appeal. The magistrate has risen through the ranks and seems to have the favors of the Head of State who would have pushed his appointment as public prosecutor of Paris in 2018 in favor of other candidates acclaimed by the Minister of Justice at the time. , Nicole Belloubet. Rémy Heitz is not totally unknown to the Ministry of Justice since he worked in his cabinets by integrating in 1992 and in 2017 the direction of criminal affairs and pardons (DACG). The magistrate has other ministerial experiences on the counter: he was chief of staff for the minister delegate for relations with the National Assembly in 1994 but also technical adviser for justice and interministerial delegate for road safety to the Prime Minister between 2002 and 2006.
Catherine Vautrin is also in the running to inherit the Ministry of Justice, after having been one of the big favorites for the post of Prime Minister. Informed of the appointment of Elisabeth Borne at the head of the government a few hours before the formalization, the former minister could finally appear at the head of a large ministry according to the JDD while Point advances the hypotheses of Justice and Health. At the end of April, the day after the re-election of Emmanuel Macron, the appointment of Bertrand Delanoë, former socialist mayor of Paris, as Minister of Justice was also considered in the columns of theObs.
Who are the previous Ministers of Justice?
The Ministry of Justice, thus named since 1790, is the administrator of French justice. Hundreds of personalities marched there to take on the role of Keeper of the Seals, including three during Emmanuel Macron’s first five-year term: François Bayrou, Nicole Belloubet and Éric Dupond-Moretti. Who were the former Ministers of Justice?
- Jacques Toubon (May 18, 1995 – June 2, 1997)
- Elisabeth Guigou (June 4, 1997 – October 18, 2000)
- Marylise Lebranchu (October 18, 2000 – May 6, 2022)
- Dominique Perben (May 7, 2002 – May 31, 2005)
- Pascal Clément (June 2, 2005 – May 15, 2007)
- Rachida Dati (May 18, 2007 – June 23, 2009)
- Michèle Alliot-Marie (June 23, 2009 – November 13, 201)
- Michel Mercier (November 14, 2010 – May 10, 2012)
- Christiane Taubira (May 16, 2012 – January 27, 2016)
- Jean-Jacques Urvoas (January 27, 2016 – May 17, 2017)
- François Bayrou (May 17, 2017 – June 21, 2017)
- Nicole Belloubet (June 21, 2017 – July 6, 2020)
- Éric Dupond-Moretti (July 6, 2020 – today)