The Bayrou government could be unveiled this weekend, “in any case, before Christmas”, affirmed the Prime Minister, in office for seven days in Matignon.
François Bayrou “did not make the phone calls, but he knows who is up for it”, guaranteed this Friday a minister expected to join the government with Politico. If the Prime Minister has not leaked any information concerning his future executive, he would already have a very clear idea of the casting. And timing-wise, time is running out. The tenant of Matignon is counting on an announcement “during the weekend”, as indicated on France 2, Thursday evening. “In any case, before Christmas,” he assured.
The left-wing parties which remain closed to participation, Olivier Faure (PS) in the lead, said they were “very dissatisfied” with the policy desired by the new Prime Minister. A new setback which still does not make it possible to appoint a government team. On the right, the situation is different. Laurent Wauquiez (LR) would have declared to the deputies of his group that he had observed “conditions met” to participate. He still asks for “clarifications”.
Consultations still unsuccessful
Thursday, December 19, François Bayrou met with the presidents of the two chambers as well as the heads of parliamentary groups and party leaders in Matignon. A meeting during which he proposed to the participants to return to the government, according to information from AFP. Marine Tondelier, Olivier Faure and Gabriel Attal were there. From there to seeing them in the new Béarnais team? Hard to say.
Recently, the consultations carried out on rue de Varenne did not yield much. The presidents of the parliamentary groups were received in order of numerical importance at the National Assembly. These consultations aimed to find compromises, where his predecessor failed according to thevice-president of the National Assembly, Roland Lescure: “Michel Barnier wanted to move quickly, which was insufficiently worked on”, he judged at the microphone of RTL. Compromises, yes, but for when? While the tenant of Matignon had given the impression of wanting to take his time, everything could speed up before the end of year holidays.
On the other hand, the Prime Minister’s entourage confirmed on Tuesday December 17 that the – still – mayor of Pau, will deliver his general policy declaration (DPG) on January 14, 2025. A relatively distant date, which could, conversely, give François Bayrou more time to appoint his government. An unlikely hypothesis, certainly, but which cannot be completely excluded.
A government of tenors, tight and trans-partisan
Behind the scenes, negotiations are in full swing. With a view to openness, François Bayrou is casting a wide net to form his “government bringing together experienced men and women who know what the daily life of the French is like”, as specified in La Tribune Dimanche. The names of Pierre Moscovici and the former socialist mayor of Dijon, François Rebsamen, return with insistence.“If he asked me, I would be willing. But I do not want to be the only left-wing guarantor of this government,” explained the second quoted in the columns of Le Figaro. With this type of profile, it would be a potential trans-partisan team, responsible for overcoming divisions and working towards a non-censorship agreement.
At the same time, the Prime Minister also wants to see Macronist leaders included in his executive’s organizational chart. This is why Gérald Darmanin could well make his return. Sébastien Lecornu (Armies), Rachida Dati (Culture) and Catherine Vautrin are in a good position to keep their place.According to information from Le Figaro, François Bayrou also “exchanged a lot” with Elisabeth Borne, former Prime Minister.She had even “refused the Army portfolio at the start of the year, a consolation prize that Emmanuel Macron offered her by removing her from Matignon”, reports the daily. According to a relative of the Calvados MP, “it is likely that she will accept” a position in the new Bayrou executive. It now remains to know the name of the targeted, hoped for and/or granted portfolio.
The Bruno Retailleau option in government no longer raises much doubt. “He showed that he had found guidelines that responded to what part of public opinion was asking for,” said François Bayrou yesterday at the microphone of France 2. The Minister of the Interior should therefore keep his post .
On the right, after the grimace soup, is an agreement in sight?According to Laurent Wauquiez, the leader of the right-wing deputies, the conditions are “rather met” for LR to enter the government, according to a text message from one of his relatives sent to Politico. “On the budget, clarification is still needed,” specifies the same source. A new interview – shortly – could take place between the Prime Minister and Laurent Wauquiez to decide. Finally, according to Politico, François Bayrou should limit his government to 25 ministers and “give a third of the positions to personalities from the right, a third to Macronists, a third to the left.