tensions between Macronists and the right of Laurent Wauquiez against a backdrop of distribution of positions

The threat had been brewing for several days: the agreement between Gabriel Attal and Laurent Wauquiez to distribute key positions in the National Assembly was openly broken on Wednesday October 9 over a commission presidency, marking a new divide between the new allies.

The standoff between the presidents of the Ensemble pour la République (EPR) and Right Republican (formerly Les Républicains) groups cost the Macronists the presidency of the Economic Affairs Committee, won by Aurélie Trouvé (La France insoumise, LFI). A skirmish which has scalded Matignon, at a time when the budget test is looming. Michel Barnier made known “his concern” facing a “solidarity” of his allies “which was not there”according to his entourage, cited by Agence France-Presse.

Gabriel Attal and Laurent Wauquiez had nevertheless concluded a lucrative agreement this summer securing many key positions. But the LR group ultimately felt that it was not well served enough, especially since it is not guaranteed to recover a vice-presidency left vacant by Annie Genevard, who entered the government.

While the Macronists tried on Wednesday to retain the chairs of the economic affairs, foreign affairs and social affairs committees after the departure of previous presidents from the government, the right opened a front by presenting two candidates for economic affairs and foreign affairs.

For the latter, the fight was resolved peacefully: LR Michel Herbillon and RN Alexandra Masson withdrew their candidacy in the third round, the postponement of votes electing Bruno Fuchs (MoDem). In social affairs, the right did not present anyone against the new president, Frédéric Valletoux (Horizons). But in economic affairs, the third round turned into a settling of scores: Julien Dive withdrew his candidacy, but LRs abstained and one of them voted for Aurélie Trouvé, according to Mr. Dive. To the great pleasure of the RN, which pounded the right, Laurent Wauquiez in the lead: “The billiard shots at I don’t know how many bands mean that LR is now the doormat of [LFI] »mocked Laure Lavalette, RN deputy.

Reloaded rifle and threat of censorship

During a meeting of the EPR group in the afternoon, Gabriel Attal denounced a project “disastrous” by Laurent Wauquiez, and a sequence which comes “weaken trust” between the two camps, according to participants. While calling not to fall “in a trap” and focus on “the interest of the country”. On the LR side, we denounce the greed of the Macronists. The presidential camp “has five committee chairs, (…) LR zero »pointed out LR deputy Julien Dive. Laurent Wauquiez’s group is only the fifth in number elected to the Assembly, but has more deputies than Horizons or the MoDem, who obtained a committee presidency.

For Richard Ramos (MoDem), these turbulences are linked to Mr. Wauquiez’s ambitions for 2027, which will lead the right to “get out quickly enough” of the government game, because “otherwise they will be tainted by macronism”. Eric Bothorel, classified on the left wing of EPR, went further: “With the vote of the Republicans (…) I have no qualms about voting for the next motion of censure that will be tabled”he assured on X in a message illustrated with a rifle being loaded.

The image, which shocked the ranks of the left and the RN, was not deleted by the elected official from Côtes-d’Armor. “Imagine the political and media explosion if it was a “rebel” who had tweeted like that…”underlined LFI deputy Raphaël Arnault. On September 24, the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, announced that he would take legal action over a tweet from Raphaël Arnault evoking a “assassination of Kanak by French police forces” in New Caledonia.

Tensions also on the left

The lucky one Aurélie Trouvé said to herself “honored” to chair a commission covering strategic subjects such as agriculture, energy or housing. She welcomed a result which “translates the vote of the French” in the legislative elections, where the New Popular Front (NFP) came first.

An alliance also rife with tensions, like what happened during the election for the presidency of the Social Affairs Committee. The socialist Jérôme Guedj, head-on opposed to the leadership of LFI and who did not want the “NFP” label in the legislative elections, was chosen as candidate, instead of his comrade Arthur Delaporte. But “Arthur Delaporte” ballots were still placed in the ballot boxes, and in the last round Jérôme Guedj did not fill up on the left. “The “rebels” (and environmentalists) prefer to vote blank”he lambasted on X.