always promised “before Christmas”, the government is struggling to be born

Monday 23rd December 2024 05:55 AM

This Monday 23, day of national mourning for Mayotte? Tuesday the 24th, Christmas Eve when, traditionally, the country slows down? “The structuring of the major ministerial poles is fixed”, assured Saturday evening the president of the MoDem deputies, Marc Fesneau, in “La Tribune Dimanche”, confirming that the complete list of the government should be presented “at once” and “before Christmas “.

For Bertrand, the RN ticks

If France fails to provide itself with a real budget and sticks only to the “special law” promulgated on Saturday, its public deficit would amount to more than 6% of GDP in 2025, far from the objective of 5% planned by the previous government, according to a study by the French Observatory of Economic Conditions (OFCE) published this Sunday.

To protect himself from censorship which brought down his predecessor, François Bayrou tries to attract influential personalities. The names of the former Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne or the former Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin are mentioned – who publicly applied for the Quai d'Orsay, where the current MoDem Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot would however like to stay.

Just like that of Xavier Bertrand, president of Hauts-de-France and figure of the right-wing Les Républicains (LR) party. But the latter, mentioned to Justice, is an irritant for the extreme right. “Who understands what François Bayrou wants to do? Apart from recycling those who made mistakes…” said the vice-president of the National Rally Sébastien Chenu this Sunday on BFMTV, nevertheless recalling that the RN was “not going to vote for an immediate motion of censure”.

It will be without Wauquiez

On the left, the socialists have formally refused to participate in the government, and only one name from this camp seems to be confirmed, that of the former minister François Rebsamen, 73 years old, close to the president since his beginnings, who announced in “La Tribune Sunday” to be “ready” to join the government, praising his long-standing “relationship of trust” with François Bayrou.

Among those leaving, Catherine Vautrin (Territories), Rachida Dati (Culture) and Sébastien Lecornu (Armies) should remain, probably in the same portfolios.