François Bayrou led a first series of consultations with political forces on Monday in order to compose his government, ideally “this week”and find a way on the budget. He then defended the accumulation of mandates from his city of Pau, of which he intends to remain mayor, despite criticism.
Facing the municipal council of the commune of Pyrénées-Atlantiques of which he has been the councilor for 10 years, the new Prime Minister described” error “ the ban on multiple mandates for parliamentarians, a rule established in 2014 under the presidency of François Hollande. “I think this debate needs to be resumed”he declared, specifying that he would ask this question in his general policy speech.
And to justify his position by “the rupture between the base of French society (…) and those in power”which nourishes, according to him, “a deep distrust of the political world”.
The president of MoDem also confirmed his intention to remain mayor.
On the left, reactions were quick. “I think he should resign from his mandate” local, castigated the leader of the rebellious deputies Mathilde Panot on LCP. “You cannot be both Prime Minister of France and mayor of a city”.
François Bayrou had already sparked controversy by choosing to go to Pau rather than to a crisis meeting on Mayotte, devastated by a cyclone which would have caused hundreds or even thousands of deaths. He only attended remotely.
This decision is “unworthy and disrespectful” while the archipelago “is going through one of the worst tragedies”notably denounced on X the socialist deputy Arthur Delaporte.
Previously, the new tenant of Matignon organized a first round of consultations with the parties represented in the National Assembly “by their order of importance” in number of deputies.
First received, Marine Le Pen, leader of the RN deputies, accompanied by party president Jordan Bardella. At the exit, she greeted a “more positive method” than his predecessor Michel Barnier, accused of having received it too late. And this while Emmanuel Macron wanted after censorship “no longer depend” of the far-right party.
Marine Le Pen hoped that the project of the election of deputies by proportional representation, also claimed by François Bayrou, would be initiated “just after the budget” and qualified the left’s proposal, not to censor the government in exchange for abandoning 49.3, as “unworthy negotiations”.
Socialists on their ” hunger “
At the head of the socialist delegation, Olivier Faure emerged “on (his) hunger” of the meeting, during which they “talked a lot” of this non-censorship pact, without the exchange being « conclusion ».
If he adopts the same policy as Michel Barnier, “we would censor him in the same way”he warned.
La France insoumise, which has already promised censorship, has refused to meet François Bayrou for the moment.
Gabriel Attal, for the Renaissance presidential party, left without a word, to remain according to his entourage “a facilitating force”.
The president of the LR group in the Senate Mathieu Darnaud, on the right and the president of the LR group in the National Assembly, Laurent Wauquiez, on the left, upon their arrival at Matignon, December 16, 2024 in Paris / LOU BENOIST / AFP
As for the Les Républicains party, the boss of senators Mathieu Darnaud told AFP he wanted Mr. Bayrou “rapidly clears up its roadmap” with “regal subjects”, « l’immigration » or even “the agricultural emergency”. If it goes in the right direction in the eyes of the right, he hoped that it “is represented in a meaningful way” in government.
The consultations will continue on Tuesday, starting with environmentalists, who do not wish “censor a priori” the future executive.
Grand oral
The Prime Minister, appointed Friday, said he wanted to quickly present his government team. “My deadline is this week, I hope. But the president must be there”he said in the evening from Pau.
Emmanuel Macron goes to Lyon on Tuesday afternoon, then from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday evening to Brussels for European summits. He also announced that he would go “in the coming days” in Mayotte.
Time is running out because this government will have to bring a new budget for 2025, the previous project having been interrupted by censorship, while the deficit worsens and the rating agencies frown.
François Bayrou, who begins his lease in Matignon with the lowest level of confidence (40%) for a Prime Minister since 2017, according to a BVA questions from MPs — resigning ministers are not allowed to do so.
The president of the National Rally group of deputies, Marine Le Pen, arrives in Matignon on December 16, 2024 to be received by the new Prime Minister François Bayrou / LOU BENOIST / AFP
Defining itself as “a Prime Minister of full exercise and complementarity” with the head of state, he wishes to form a tight government dominated by “personalities” of experience. He chose close friends for his office, with Nicolas Pernot as director, who headed the services of the city of Pau.
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