One of François Fillon’s most fervent supporters in 2017, who demonstrated against same-sex marriage and voted against the constitutionalisation of abortion, was appointed despite opposition from part of the presidential camp.
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In Francethe tenor of the Republicans, Bruno Retailleau, has been appointed Minister of the Interior to replace Gérald Darmanin, announced this Saturday, September 21, the Secretary General of the Elysée Alexis Kohler. Strategic boss of the powerful LR group in the Senate since 2014, the elected official from Vendée, who has a firm line on immigration, security and respect for secularism, has constantly denounced “the laxity” of Macronie on the subjects managed by this ministry. Bruno Retailleau also opposed marriage for all and the end-of-life bill wanted by Emmanuel Macron.
He became one of the central figures in the Prime Minister’s government. Michel Barnier. The handover between Bruno Retailleau and Gérald Darmanin at the Ministry of the Interior will take place on Monday, September 23 at 10:30 a.m., AFP learned from a source close to the matter. At 63, the new “ “France’s top cop”, according to the established formula, ticks the last box that was missing on his political CV. After having been a general councillor of Vendée (1988-2015), deputy (1994-1997), president of the general council of Vendée (2010-2015), president of the regional council of Pays de Loire (2016-2017), senator and president of the UMP group then Les Républicains in the Senate (since 2014), here he is a minister.
A line that makes teeth grind
In Beauvau, this horse riding enthusiast, a former protégé of Philippe de Villiers in the Movement for France (MPF), will have a lot to do. The police union UN1TÉ has already demanded ” respect for the commitments made to the personnel of the national police, for their unprecedented deployment which largely contributed to the success » of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In a press release published shortly after the announcement of the new government, the union also asked Minister Retailleau to ” defend the next budgets for the functioning of our ministry at the level of its potential “. ” It is urgent to ensure the best possible working conditions for the police officers responsible for ensuring the safety of our fellow citizens. “.
The only heavyweight in the Barnier government, Bruno Retailleau is one of the figures of the liberal-conservative right, with inflexible convictions, a supporter of a ” civilization policy “. On societal reforms, the profile of this opponent of marriage for all, a loyal follower of François Fillon, also risks making some people grind their teeth. Particularly on the left, where, in addition to his fight against the inclusion of abortion in the Constitution, some have brought out controversial statements, such as during the riots of June 2023, when he established a link between immigration, these excesses and ” a kind of regression to ethnic origins » from the « second and third generations “.
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