This second five-year term like no other is far from over, yet 2027 and its cohort of putative candidates are already moving forward. This last reshuffle with Gabriel Attal at its head – and that puts Rachida Dati back in the saddle – is a new turning point. Behind the scenes, some are learning to dodge tripping, others are familiarizing themselves with the art of conspiracy, in short, everyone is preparing for the post-Emmanuel Macron era with rigor and determination. The L’Express political department offers to help you follow, thanks to a weekly meeting on our websitethe progress of those ambitious people who hope to climb, quickly and without injury, the steps of power.
Macron, the table and the leaks
He really likes his new – small – table: Emmanuel Macron wants the councils of ministers to continue to be held in the green room, on the first floor of the Elysée Palace, in a reduced format. “It makes his life easier, he is not bothered by a multitude of ministers who send him messages as long as an arm!”, notes one of those present among his faithful. But watch out for leaks. On January 24, the president thundered: he wanted these meetings to remain watertight, he did not appreciate that the one from the previous week ended up in the press. We will therefore not say that, on January 29, he asked the members of the government to show: since a lot of money has been invested, for example for the police or justice, the president wants us to show the French what happens to their money.
When the president criticizes Attal
According to several close to the Head of State, the crisis opened by François Bayrou’s secessionist threats does not panic Emmanuel Macron. The president, who knows his Béarnais well, would wait patiently for the latter’s anger to pass. But that does not prevent him from formulating his first criticism of his Prime Minister. “When it comes to negotiating with the FNSEA, with the unions, he gets his feet wet; negotiating with Bayrou, who has been in the balance of power for 40 years, he can’t do it either… But he never did that, I can’t blame him,” noted the head of state in front of some of his interlocutors after Bayrou loudly announced his decision not to enter the government. In short, “the president thinks that Gabriel Attal is still a little tender,” explains an Elysee visitor. The advantage of age.
Bayrou outraged, Bayrou martyred…
François Bayrou is very angry with the President of the Republic, and for good reason. He who had been one of the architects of victory in 2017 today feels “abandoned or even humiliated by Emmanuel Macron”, says a leader of the Orange party. Since the last reshuffle, Bayrou has certainly been fighting for better representation of the MoDem within the government, but also working on a new government architecture – enough to rob Matignon. In his luggage, two burning issues (a reform of the State and simplification and a reform of National Education) for which he was refused. In short, three refusals that Bayrou did not digest. Worse still, the latter mainly waited for a phone call from Emmanuel Macron which never came… The president preferred to appoint Gabriel Attal, but the young Prime Minister and the one who always aspired to be one had nothing to say to yourself. “When François deals with Attal, he says to himself that a young man, however talented he may be, cannot feel the country,” explains someone close to Bayrou. “And Attal only talks about communication, that bothers François deeply.”
…and Bayrou resentful
But what has happened to Bayrou to refuse with so much noise – and with so much criticism – to join the government? His Modem flock castigated their leader’s “method” as being a little too thunderous during a round table discussion that had the false air of group therapy at the Ministry of Agriculture on the evening of Wednesday, February 9. “You’re screwing us up, you’ve gone too far,” Jean-Louis Bourlanges attacked from the outset. “You say that we disagree with the government’s line, but the general policy speech was a week ago. What has changed since then?” asked another MP. “I was only talking about the line of the Ministry of Education”, replied Bayrou, embarrassed at the cables… “These people resemble us less and less in their way of governing, of the promise of 2017”, lamented the leader of the MoDem, according to several participants who immediately understood who Bayrou was talking about: the Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, the secretary general of the Elysée, Alexis Kohler, and the head of state, Emmanuel Macron.
Benjamin Lucas “marabouted” by Jean-Luc Mélenchon
Will the movement created by Benoît Hamon in 2017 survive the spring and the European elections? Divisions are becoming increasingly strong within the small environmentalist party, yesterday an ally of EELV, since some of its executives are now keen on Jean-Luc Mélenchon. And not the least: MP Benjamin Lucas, Generation executive. s, hesitates to support the rebellious list led by Manon Aubry, and to include some personalities from the movement. A rebellious inclination that Benoît Hamon – who has discreetly returned to business – nor Guillaume Balas, Lucas’ predecessor, does not accept. Problem: Benjamin Lucas has little desire to give in to the old chefs, especially since Jean-Luc Mélenchon takes care of him personally with a few face-to-face meetings and even a candlelit dinner before Christmas. “Mélenchon marabouted him”, growls a deputy… Enough to make the person concerned smile, who is surprised that the environmentalists have “found [son] number” since they are losing ground in the polls for the European elections.
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