As prestigious as it may be, the Ministry of Economy and Finance does not attract much covetousness. While Michel Barnier should decide in the coming days, only a few names have been mentioned to replace Bruno Le Maire.
While Bruno Le Maire left the Ministry of Economy after seven years at Bercy, the volunteers to replace him are not legion. The latest leads give pride of place to a rather right-wing profile, although a candidate with a technical and socialist profile has also been approached. The choice will be up to the new Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, who will have to decide after the record tenure of Bruno Le Maire. The latter who refused to leave Bercy, was forced to do so. The fault lies in a dissolution to which he was opposed and the results of the legislative elections in which he did not participate.
It must be said that the position, while prestigious, is also difficult to hold. Particularly at a time when the state of public accounts is slipping and the vote on the 2025 budget is shaping up to be a perilous step for the future executive. The stated objective is to find thirty billion euros to bring the public deficit back within the authorized limit, but the question remains how to do this between savings and increases in tax revenues. It is also necessary to find the person who will be responsible for taking charge of this file, and others, which are particularly delicate.
A right-wing or left-wing minister at Bercy?
While there is no shortage of candidates for ministerial positions in the ranks of LR, few seem to want to settle in the Ministry of Economy. There is indeed the president of the LR group in the Senate, Bruno Retailleauwho is quoted but the parliamentarian seems more interested in the Interior ministry. Landing at Bercy could be an alternative option if a personality beat him to the Beauvau priority. Laurent Wauquiez and Frédéric Péchenard are also in the running as reported by The Point. Some on the right are banking on a more discreet profile, that of Veronique Louwagiestill according to the newspaperThe LR MP is appreciated and renowned in the National Assembly and her interest in economic issues had pushed her to apply for the presidency of the Finance Committee won by the rebellious Eric Coquerel.
The hypothesis of the nomination of a right-wing personality to the Economy remains open, but Michel Barnier will not be able to choose only representatives of his political family since he promises to form a “balanced” and “plural” government. Could Bercy therefore return to a minister from the presidential coalition, the center or the left? It is possible, although no name in particular has been cited for the Economy portfolio.
The deputy Together for the Republic of Oise, Eric Woerthwould also be on the list of ministerial candidates according to Politico. The elected official could be part of a new duo, with Valerie Pecresseconsidered to take over the Ministry of Economy. The man who was president of the Finance Committee of the National Assembly and is a former LR member could indeed satisfy both the right, also represented in the ministry, and the presidential coalition. But Eric Woerth indicated on France 2 that he had not yet been called by Michel Barnier. If he returned to his possible nomination by indicating that he had not been contacted by Michel Barnier, the deputy Eric Woerth described on France 2 the government that he wished to see formed: an executive “fairly broad and balanced” including “experienced profiles everywhere”.
According to some Politicoa serious candidate has been approached for the position: Didier Migaud. The president of the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life, who was once mentioned for Matignon, has a technical profile, knowledgeable about economic issues since he also chaired the Court of Auditors. But he also has political experience with his former mandates in the National Assembly, notably as president of the Finance Committee. The senior civil servant who was a priori set for an appointment to Bercy would have nevertheless set too many conditions, such as having a hand in choosing his delegate ministers, making the hypothesis of his appointment fall through. The fact that Didier Migaud was a seriously considered candidate, however, gives credence – or even an advantage? – to the arrival of a left-wing personality at the Ministry of the Economy.