François Bayrou announced his government Monday evening and its composition is surprising. Several of its ministers were not chosen by the French during the last legislative elections.
White smoke before Christmas, as promised! François Bayrou ended up appointing his government on Monday December 23. With many surprises. Both on the names and on the profiles of certain ministers. And for good reason. While the French have had to vote for the composition of the National Assembly twice in the last two years (2022 and 2024), this was an opportunity for voters to give their opinion on the country’s politicians as well as as on the composition of the Assembly.
However, the Prime Minister did not really take these clearly expressed opinions into account, by appointing ministers when they had failed in the last legislative elections. It is still important to remember that ministers are not elected, but chosen by the Prime Minister, himself designated by the President of the Republic. But it is rare to see such a large number of ministers who have suffered defeat in the legislative elections.
Manuel Valls
He is the surprise of this new government. Manuel Valls was appointed Minister of State for Overseas Territories, a particularly important issue, particularly after the passage of Hurricane Chido in Mayotte. However, Manuel Valls had “left” French politics to concentrate on Spain and his position as municipal councilor in Barcelona.
His political career in France has been nothing but a succession of failures since 2018. He was mayor of Évry (2001-2012), then deputy for Essonne (2002-2012 / 2017-2018), minister of Interior (2012-2014) and even Prime Minister of François Hollande (2014-2016). But he tried his luck in the 2011 citizen primary, which was a failure, followed by another in 2017.
Following this defeat, he left the Socialist Party to join Emmanuel Macron. He was then a member of the La République en marche group in the Assembly, after his election as deputy in 2017. Manuel Valls then left for Spain to run for mayor of Barcelona, but there too, it was a failure. He tried to return to France with the legislative elections of 2022, just after the re-election of Emmanuel Macron, to become a deputy for French people established outside France, but without success, failing to win the vote.
“By scratching at the door, someone had to open it one day…”, comments a socialist executive, close to Olivier Faure (head of the PS) to the Parisian. This is precisely what François Bayrou liked, his “kamikaze” side, as he explained on the microphone of BFMTV. The Prime Minister wanted to appoint experienced figures known to the French, this is the case with Manuel Valls, even if his political success is part of the past.
Patricia Mirallès
She was appointed Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Armed Forces, responsible for memory and veterans. A former socialist who joined Emmanuel Macron in 2017, Patricia Mirallès was twice a deputy in Hérault, in 2017, then in 2022, before her defeat in 2024. She came second in the first round to block the RN. A strategy that worked since it was ultimately the candidate of the New Popular Front who won the election. But it must be said that Patricia Mirallès was far from having convinced the voters, since she only obtained 22.54% of the votes.
Honored with the renewed confidence of@EmmanuelMacron. I thank @bayrou to entrust me with this responsibility and salutes the action and work accomplished by @JL_Thieriot.
Starting tomorrow, I will take up the files for our wounded soldiers, the fighting world and national memory.
— Patricia Miralles (@MIRALLESMP) December 23, 2024
Amélie de Montchalin
She was appointed minister responsible for public accounts. This is the fourth time she has held a government position. She has already been Secretary of State for European Affairs, Minister of Transformation and the Civil Service, then Minister of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, for only a few days. Above all, she suffered a failure in the legislative elections of June 2022, without running again in 2024. Coming from the right, she joined Emmanuel Macron in 2017. She will be responsible, alongside Éric Lombard (Economy) for completing a budget in fourth speed.
Humility and determination in the face of the mission entrusted to me by the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, alongside@Eric_R_Lombard.
Our country needs a budget. We owe it to the French.
At work. With all those who want to serve the general interest.
— Amélie de Montchalin (@AdeMontchalin) December 23, 2024
Patrick Mignola
He was appointed Minister Delegate responsible for relations with Parliament. Patrick Mignola is a figure in MoDem, being its vice-president as well as its spokesperson. He was also head of the group of MoDem deputies until 2022 after… his defeat in the legislative elections. A rejection from the voters of the 4th constituency of Savoie where Patrick Mignola nevertheless had strong roots, after having been mayor of La Ravoire for 16 years, twice vice-president of the department as well as vice-president of the Region. A disavowal of voters which did not prevent him from joining the government, even though he did not run again in 2024.
Laurent Saint-Martin
He moves from the post of Minister of Budget to Foreign Trade. In addition to having failed in the 2022 legislative elections (against Louis Boyard, LFI), he failed to propose a budget that convinced the deputies, leading to the activation of article 49.3 by Michel Barnier and to government censorship, plunging France further into an unprecedented political crisis. In 2024, he was not a candidate in Val-de-Marne.
Very honored to be appointed Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French People Abroad to @jnbarrot.
Thanks to the President of the Republic @EmmanuelMacron and to the Prime Minister @bayrou for their trust.
Ready to take on these challenges and make France shine.
— Laurent Saint-Martin (@LaurentSMartin) December 23, 2024
Reactions from the opposition
After the announcement of the composition of the government, reactions were quick. On Marine Le Pen denounces “a manifest absence of legitimacy” of this government. She calls for a “change of method” from the government. Jordan Bardella describes this government as a “coalition of failure”. On the left, Olivier Faure assured, with BFMTV-RMChaving “found the composition of the new government distressing”. He says he is sorry for the “contempt” with which François Bayrou treated the left. Marine Tondeliershe makes this observation: “This democracy is not doing well. This is all going to end badly…”