The official photo of the Barnier government will not resemble the previous ones

POLITICS – This may be a detail for you, but institutionally it means a lot. This Friday, September 27, Michel Barnier receives his entire government in Matignon to work on the general policy speech (a real roadmap for the executive) that he will deliver to the National Assembly on October 1. But not only that.

This meeting is also an opportunity to take the official photo of the new government. An obligatory exercise (even in times of covid and social distancing) which this time will have two particularities. The first is that it will be taken in Matignon, and not at the Élysée as was the case, for example, with the first government of Édouard Philippe (photographed on the interior steps of the presidential palace) or his second , which had been the subject of a unique staging in the gardens. Where the government of Élisabeth Borne was also photographed five years later.

Without Emmanuel Macron

And the second: it is the absence of the Head of State in the photo. An originality which is not linked to the diplomatic commitments of Emmanuel Macron (currently in Canada), but which arises from the new architecture of the executive. As a reminder, and even if followers of the President of the Republic appear (and in a prominent place) in the government, we are – theoretically – in the framework of cohabitation.

Thus, as was the case for example for the Jospin government (whose family photo was taken without Jacques Chirac), the photo session will do without Emmanuel Macron. A subtle way of emphasizing that the heart of power has moved from the Élysée to Matignon and that the head of state cannot – still theoretically – be considered accountable for the results (positive and negative) of Michel’s government Barnier. It now remains to be seen whether Bruno Retailleau and Didier Migaud will be positioned side by side.

Also see on HuffPost: