Eric Dupond-Moretti should soon bid farewell to the Ministry of Justice. To replace him, the option of a well-known personality in the ranks of LR and among the Macronists is gaining ground.
A first list of ministerial candidates was published on Wednesday, September 18 by RTL. Although it gives pride of place to the LR, it does not seem to convince Emmanuel Macron who considers it “monochromatic”.“A certain amount of information circulating is inaccurate. Particularly regarding the names mentioned, as well as the balance of sensitivities. This in no way represents the government project desired by the Prime Minister,” assured Matignon on Wednesday evening, adding that Michel Barnier was continuing his work. Now, it is time to make predictions. So, will Eric Dupond-Moretti remain Minister of Justice? Who will replace him at the Ministry of Justice if he were to leave the ship? Several names have been mentioned, but one of them keeps coming up and could well join the Barnier government.
Catherine Vautrin acclaimed by Emmanuel Macron
The resigning Minister of Health, Catherine Vautrinconstitutes the latest hypothesis put forward in the indiscretions of the Point. Coming from LR, she is said to be favored by Emmanuel Macron, who would like to keep her. After studying law, Catherine Vautrin worked for several years within the Cigna insurance group, before moving into politics. An RPR activist since her youth, she joined the government of Jean-Pierre Raffarin in 2004. She successively held the positions of Secretary of State for Integration and Equal Opportunities, Secretary of State for the Elderly and Minister Delegate for Social Cohesion and Parity.
It is therefore with experience in the executive and in positions related to social affairs that Catherine Vautrin could join Michel Barnier’s team. She also sat in the Assembly for ten years as a member of parliament for Marne, under the colours of the UMP and then LR. She distanced herself from this party from 2017, before giving her support to Emmanuel Macron in February 2022. The latter was able to remember this a few months later, during his negotiations for the post of head of government.
Rachida Dati (Culture), could also claim the Ministry of Justice since she already held the post under Nicolas Sarkozy but would rather be mentioned for the spokesperson, that is to say a role of minister delegate to Matignon. Unless a completely different name finally comes out of the hat? The lawyer Francis Szpinerelected LR senator since 2023, has also been mentioned. A loyal supporter of Michel Barnier from the very beginning, he is described by a Les Républicains parliamentarian as “the right-wing Éric Dupond-Moretti”, relays Public Sénat. But “if we have a Retailleau in Justice, we cannot have a Szpiner in Justice too”, concedes this same source.
Bruno Retailleau out of the running for the Ministry of Justice?
“In the little game of speculation”, The Point put forward the name of Bruno Retailleau. The nomination of Michel Barnier having reshuffled the cards, the leader of the LR senators is expected to hold various positions, such as the Interior, the Economy and… Justice. “It would oscillate between the Interior and Justice”, also suggested an LR senator to Public Senate. But a barnierist was leaning towards it on Sunday, in his confidences to Pointrather for Beauvau: “Bruno embodies a hard right, that might displease the magistrates, who are still very much on the left…”.
Problem, if Bruno Retailleau were appointed to the Ministry of the Interior, there would be “no question of keeping a Dupond-Moretti or someone who is not on his line as Minister of Justice”, warned Les Républicains. According to the latest information from RTLand the list of ministers proposed by Michel Barnier to Emmanuel Macron, “Bruno Retailleau at the Ministry of the Interior”, is now the preferred option, exit the Justice track for the boss of the LR senators.