Attal confides his “frustration” at having to leave, Barnier promises “changes and ruptures”

If the image of a transfer of power was expected, there remained an unknown. Sixty days after the second round of early legislative elections, which gave birth to an Assembly fragmented into three blocs, Gabriel Attal handed over the keys to Matignon to his successor on Thursday evening: Michel Barnier, former chief Brexit negotiator. Eight months after replacing Élisabeth Borne, in response to the political whirlwind of the immigration law, the president of the Renaissance deputies spoke privately with the new head of government. A half-hour exchange that was followed by two short speeches in the courtyard of Matignon.

Applauded by his teams, including several ministers – Prisca Thévenot, Fadila Khattabi…, – to whom he is close, Gabriel Attal first wanted to “congratulate” Michel Barnier that he “has known for several years”. And to praise his experience of “major local elected official”and servant “of the State in different functions”. So many qualities that will allow him to “to maneuver in the French political landscape that we know today.” He has faced challenges himself in recent months. “Being Prime Minister is the honour of a lifetime (…) You never do it alone because you do it with the French people,” insisted the deputy of Hauts-de-Seine. As he returns to the benches of the Palais Bourbon, he made a harsh observation: “French politics is sick.” “But recovery is possible. On condition that we all get away from sectarianism, from political coups, and stop seeing everything in black,” he wished. As a friendly advice addressed to the new arrival, who will have to resolve a parliamentary equation unprecedented since 1958.

“Eight months is short”

If Gabriel Attal was kind to Michel Barnier, he was less tender with Emmanuel Macron, who activated the dissolution to everyone’s surprise in the wake of the European elections. “Eight months is short. It’s too short.”hammered the former Minister of Public Accounts, who shared his «frustration» to have to leave so soon. And to promise that “Freedom will be at the heart of the values ​​that will drive it in the months and years to come”. The message has been received. Gabriel Attal may want to free himself more and more from the President of the Republic, but he has shared a feeling of “duty accomplished within the time allotted to (him)”. The opportunity to discuss his record, the highlights of his time on rue de Varenne. But above all to urge the new Prime Minister to maintain national education, which he was in charge of between July 2023 and January 2024, at the rank of “priorities” The former tenant of Matignon then thanked his government, the parliamentarians of the central bloc, his relatives and in particular his mother.

A maternal tribute that Michel Barnier bounced back on from the beginning of his speech. Before moving on to more political terrain. “We are in a serious moment”argued the Prime Minister, who “approaches this new page with great humility”. “Determined”with the desire to respond “to anger, to suffering, to feelings of abandonment, of injustice”he promised to “tell the truth.” As well as “do everything to live up to expectations and hopes” French people to whom he will present his roadmap in a general policy speech in a few weeks. “There will also be changes and ruptures,” thundered the unsuccessful candidate for the 2021 LR Congress. Who gave a foretaste of his method to achieve this: “A lot of listening and a lot of respect, between the government and Parliament, towards all political forces, social partners, economic partners, local elected officials.”

A way of already confirming a break with Emmanuel Macron’s practice of power. To whom he issues a final warning: “The government will not pretend to believe that infused science comes only from it.” Has the fourth cohabitation of the Fifth Republic just begun?