Appointed Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal must present his government in the coming hours, or even the coming days. But the composition of the ministerial team is not simple and must meet several requirements; changes are inevitable.
The new government should take shape in the coming hours, but the composition of the ministerial team is looking like a headache for the newly appointed Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal. The tenant of Matignon had dinner with Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday evening to begin discussions on this subject and the promise to form a tighter government would have been concluded according to BFMTV. But should we believe it when the ideal of a government reduced to 15 ministers and 15 secretaries of state was already mentioned during the two previous reshuffles without ever being respected?
In addition to reducing the team, the composition of the government must meet other requirements, starting with parity. However, the replacement of Elisabeth Borne by Gabriel Attal already means one less female position and several female ministers are in the hot seat according to persistent rumors. Finally, by promising a renewal, the head of government implied a minimum of changes within the executive and could try to bring in new faces, perhaps for an opening to the right or the arrival of heavyweights , which macronie is sorely lacking. But these possible new entries must not be to the detriment of the balance between the forces of the majority, namely the MoDem and Horizons, already upset by the appointment of Attal. All these issues will need to be resolved quickly, as the new government is expected by Friday January 12.
Who leaves and who stays? Update on rumors
- Gerald Darmanin : this is the information that comes closest to certainty on the composition of the government, the Minister of the Interior should be kept at Place Beauvau, according to BFMTV. The man declared on January 9 that he had not completed his mission and that he was “keen to complete this [qu’il a] started”, emphasizing the Olympic Games planned in six months and on which he has been working since his arrival at the Interior. An argument against which it is difficult to fight. But this desire to remain dissonant with Gérald Darmanin’s opposition to the appointment of Gabriel Attal to Matignon which would have been organized behind the scenes, but denied by the minister and his entourage.
- Bruno Le Maire : the Minister of the Economy wishes to keep his place in the absence of having obtained Matignon, but he too would have expressed criticism of the appointment of the Prime Minister, refusing to work under the leadership of a 34-year-old politician according to people close to him cited by BFMTV. He could be consoled by inheriting an enlarged Ministry of the Economy which would gain weight, but according to sources Politico this government heavyweight – and there are few of them – would not be sure to stay. His departure, however, would be a surprise.
- Agnès Firmin Le Bodo : Aurélien Rousseau’s replacement at the Ministry of Health has little chance of being retained, because she is under investigation for gifts improperly received in the context of her role as pharmacist. A new Minister of Health – the seventh since the Macron era – is therefore expected at the turning point for this sector which has been presented as a priority for years. The choice seems difficult, but it could fall on a person combining mastery and knowledge of the medical world and its difficulties, political strength and charisma to establish himself at the head of the ministry.
- Catherine Colonna : the Minister of Foreign Affairs is rumored to be leaving and this portfolio coveted by Darmanin, and possibly Le Maire, should not go to either of them. Few names are circulating to succeed Catherine Colonna in this ministry which can be both an incommensurable promotion or one of the best consolation prizes for a minister dismissed elsewhere.
- The “rebels” of the left wing: there are five of them in the hot seat for opposing the immigration law – Clement Beaune (Transport), Rima Abdul-Malak (Culture), Patrice Vergriete (Accommodation), Sylvie Retailleau (Higher education) and Roland Lescure (Industry) – and among them some could be thanked for serving as an example. The name of the Minister of Culture is mentioned in particular, as is that of the Minister of Higher Education since this area could be coupled with the Ministry of National Education. On the front line of the revolt, Clément Beaune would not be safe either.
- Olivier Dussopt : the case of the Minister of Labor raises questions. The man is scheduled to go to trial in his favoritism trial on Jan. 17, and a conviction would force him out of government. Will he leave the government first for safety or will he be kept while awaiting the verdict at the Ministry of Labor or elsewhere? He would have his sights on the Armies, but the position is still occupied by Sébastien Lecornu, who passed by Matignon.
Who at National Education?
Appointed to Matignon, Gabriel Attal leaves vacant his place as Minister of National Education for which he worked for five months. If the Prime Minister said “took the cause of school to Matignon”, he will only be able to keep an eye on the ministry which has become one of Emmanuel Macron’s reserved areas. It is also up to the Head of State to appoint a new minister to manage one of the most important portfolios, as required by the Constitution: the Prime Minister proposes and the President of the Republic decides.
The current composition of the government
The ministers
- Bruno LE MAIRE, Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty
- Gérald DARMANIN, Minister of the Interior and Overseas Territories
- Catherine COLONNA, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs
- Eric DUPOND-MORETTI, Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice
- Sébastien LECORNU, Minister of the Armed Forces
- Olivier DUSSOPT, Minister of Labor, Full Employment and Integration
- Gabriel ATTAL, Prime Minister and former Minister of National Education and Youth
- Sylvie RETAILLEAU, Minister of Higher Education and Research
- Marc FESNEAU, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty
- Christophe BECHU, Minister of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion
- Agnès PANNIER-RUNACHER, Minister of Energy Transition
- Rima ABDUL-MALAK, Minister of Culture
- Agnès FIMIN LE BODO, interim Minister of Health and Prevention
- Aurore BERGE, Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Disabled People
- Stanislas GUERINI, Minister of Transformation and Public Service
- Amélie OUDEA-CASTERA, Minister of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games
The delegated ministers
- Olivier VERAN, in charge of Democratic Renewal, Government spokesperson
- Franck RIESTER, responsible for Relations with Parliament
- Bérangère COUILLARD, responsible for Equality between women and men, Diversity and Equal opportunities
- Thomas CAZENAVE, Public Accounts Officer
- Roland LESCURE, in charge of Industry
- Jean-Noël BARROT, responsible for Digital Transition and Telecommunications
- Olivia GREGOIRE, responsible for Small and Medium Enterprises, Commerce, Crafts and Tourism
- Dominique FAURE, in charge of Local Authorities and Rural Affairs
- Philippe VIGIER, responsible for Overseas Territories
- Olivier BECHT, responsible for foreign trade, attractiveness and French people abroad
- Carole GRANDJEAN, responsible for Vocational Education and Training
- Clément BEAUNE, responsible for Transport
- Patrice VERGRIETE, responsible for Housing
- Fadila KHATTABI, responsible for disabled people
Secretaries of State
- Charlotte CAUBEL, responsible for Children
- Hervé BERVILLE, responsible for the Sea
- Sabrina AGRESTI-ROUBACHE, City Manager
- Sonia BACKES, responsible for Citizenship
- Laurence BOONE, responsible for Europe
- Chrysoula ZACHAROPOULOU, responsible for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships
- Prisca THEVENOT, responsible for Youth and Universal National Service
- Patricia MIRALLES, in charge of Veterans and Memory
- Sarah EL HAIRY, responsible for Biodiversity