Appreciated by Macronie, the vice-president of MoDem could keep his post. But the Quai d’Orsay is highly coveted by a former minister.
Will we have a new government before Christmas? In any case, this is the promise made Thursday December 19 by the new Prime Minister on the set of France 2. According to Public Senate, it would be a “tight” government of 25 people with a balance by “thirds”: left, center and right, with the aim of avoiding a motion of censure.
Like Bruno Retailleau, who is almost guaranteed to keep his post as Minister of the Interior, Jean-Noël Barrot could also remain Minister of Foreign Affairs. The vice-president of MoDem, appointed less than three months ago, notably had to regain control of the various international crises to which was added the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. An argument which could work in favor of the outgoing minister. “We need continuity,” defended a member of the government, “otherwise, internationally, they will exploit our divisions,” he continued.
Jean-Noël Barrot, who is close to François Bayrou, assures him: the Prime Minister will be able to find “alchemy” in his new government. “Alchemy between these personalities and the line that will be held,” he said on France Inter. “For this momentum to be followed up, we must concentrate on convergences rather than on red lines,” he defended. The resigning minister in any case seems keen to renew his lease at the Quai d’Orsay, a position he obtained after having been Minister Delegate for Digital and then Minister Delegate for Europe. An uninterrupted presence in government since 2022.
Gérald Darmanin at the Quai d’Orsay?
But another personality covets the Quai d’Orsay: the former Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, who is campaigning to become Minister of Foreign Affairs. “The only thing that would make sense would be to go to the Quai d’Orsay,” he confided, in mid-September, to Parisian, when Michel Barnier formed his government.
According to the media PoliticoGérald Darmanin “even leads a fierce campaign” to be part of the adventure. According to one of his relatives interviewed by the Dispatch from the South, “Gérald does not know at all what he is going to do (…) He knows that places will be expensive and does not want to accept a secretary of state for veterans, he wants a sovereign ministry”. Response this weekend or before December 25 at the latest, according to the schedule announced by François Bayrou.