Historically close to Emmanuel Macron, François Bayrou could play a determining role in the head of state’s decision when appointing the new Prime Minister.
A reshuffle could be announced at the very beginning of the week. Indeed, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne should soon say goodbye to Matignon. What about his replacement? If the candidates are not legion, some are not unanimous among those close to the Head of State. The current Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu is one of the favorites to take the helm of the government. A scenario that is not to everyone’s taste.
Bayrou hostile to the arrival of Lecornu at Matignon
Indeed, according to BFMTV, François Bayrou would be clearly opposed to the Lecornu option. “He was very hard on the Lecornu option. He sees the hand of Nicolas Sarkozy there” slips a source to the continuous news channel. A figure close to Emmanuel Macron, the president of the MoDem could therefore have a certain influence on the latter in his decision to change Pprime minister.
As a reminder, the two men have been linked since the 2017 presidential election and François Bayrou’s proposed alliance. Appointed Keeper of the Seals to carry the law of moralization of public life before being forced to resign for a preliminary investigation into the parliamentary assistants of his deputies targeting his party, he will be appointed high commissioner for planning and perspective by Emmanuel Macron three years later. The two men have since remained extremely close despite certain disagreements. “Emmanuel Macron is endowed with remarkable qualities and exceptional working power. He stands out from all his predecessors that I have known” he declared during Emmanuel Macron’s first mandate.
François Bayrou calls for change in the government
“We have reached the end of a sequence with difficult texts, there is inevitably a new period opening. I think it is legitimate that there is renewal” declared the mayor of Pau on BFMTV this Sunday, January 7, 2024. If he takes a dim view of the arrival of Sébastien Lecornu at Matignon, François Bayrou does not hide his desire to see a new face as Prime Minister. He also uses the terms “coherence” concerning the Head of State’s project, “renewal” and “refoundation”. “We are not continuing the policy as it has been done for decades and basically, in which it would be enough to be well placed.” This has the merit of being clear.
For now, several favorites are standing out to replace Élisabeth Borne. Sébastien Lecornu and Julien Denormandie appear as the two main ones. Unless the head of government is retained in her position. It is best not to rule out any options. If a reshuffle were to be announced, a Council of Ministers would be organized with the new team. Traditionally scheduled for Wednesday, it can be moved to the end of the week. An air of déjà vu, it was last July.