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Stefano Montefiori, correspondent from Paris
Barrot as Foreign Minister, Lombard as Economy Minister. The new executive also includes former prime ministers Valls and Borne. Bardella: «Bayrou government is ridiculous». The weight that Le Pen has on the new executive is worrying
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
PARIS – Those who are there count, how the former prime minister Elisabeth Borne and above all Manuel Valls which had accompanied the last phase of Hollande's presidency, but Even those who aren't there countand why: how Xavier Bertrandthe Gaullist with great ambitions who for years has been thinking about the Elysée or at least about Matignon, who until Sunday was certain of returning to government as a minister but instead at the last moment he was rejected. Not by President Emmanuel Macron born by the first François Bayrou, my by Marine Le Pen.
The “no” of the leader of the National Rally to Xavier Betrandher long-time enemy, is significant above all because she was able to change the mind of Bayrou, who had already promised the position to Bertrand. It means that Marine Le Pen once again has the power to influence the governmentfrom the moment of birth. Just as had happened during the three months of the ephemeral Barnier government, born with the support of the Rassemblement national and died as soon as Marine Le Pen changed her mind.
Bertrand's statement is coldexplicit, and sounds like a disavowal of the upcoming government. The former Health Minister released it on «The Prime Minister informed me this morning, contrary to what he had proposed to me yesterday, that he was no longer able to entrust me with the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice due to the opposition of the Rassemblement national. I refuse to participate in a government formed with the support of Marine Le Pen.”
Bertrand concludes by wishing Bayrou good luck for the good of France, but emphasizes that in his opinion “it is a mistake to come to terms with extremism”. Here is the heart of the French political crisis of the last few months and last years: the inconsistency and instrumentality of the so-called “republican arc” towards Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement national: sometimes defined by President Macron himself as a sort of threat to democracy, then seconded in his request for early elections last summer; Marine Le Pen can be from time to time, for the same political exponents, an uncommon heir of the Petenist far right or a respectable and indispensable interlocutor for the formation of governments.
Embedded, like Barnier, the necessary “a priori non-hostility” of Marine Le Pen, who also reserves the right to bring down this government as soon as he deems it appropriate, François Bayrou tries to form a government of familiar facesa kind of “all stars” that can reassure citizens, and give them at least the impression that the political class is committed with its best names to trying to respond to the needs of the French and in particular to approve the law of balance on which Barnier fell.
A technician, Eric Lombarddirector Caisse des Dépôts, at the key Ministry of Economy. But then the Gaullist remains at the Ministry of the Interior Bruno Retailleauwho in recent months has made himself known and appreciated – especially among the far-right electorate – for assertive proclamations such as “my three priorities: restoring order, restoring order, restoring order”, as Culture remains Rachida Dati and Defense Sébastien Lecornu. Instead of Xavier Bertrand, former Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin goes to Justice, a great return like that of Elisabeth Borne to Education and that of Manuel Valls overseas.
Valls' presence is important because at the moment overseas, especially after the cyclone in Mayotte, is a serious issue. His personal charisma is remarkable, after having been, together with François Hollande, the last great figure of the left in government before the advent of Macron. But Valls is also the theorist of the “two irreconcilable lefts”the man who criticized in the harshest possible way the socialists' alliance with Mélenchon in the Nouveau Front Populaire. Bayrou perhaps hopes to encourage other socialists to abandon the NFP. However, Marine Le Pen's cumbersome role remains a problemnot only for Bertrand.
The other ministers
In all, Bayrou will appoint 34 new ministers, 17 men and 17 women: the first Council has been set for January 3rd. Nominated Geneviève Darrieussecq for Health, Annie Genevard will be the next Minister of Agriculture, Catherine Vautrin Minister of Labour, François Rebsamen Minister of Spatial Planning and Decentralization e Agnès Pannier-Runacher Minister of the Ecological Transition. Clara Chappaz has been appointed Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Ame'lie de Montchalin inherits the Public Accounts. Marie Barsac at Sport and Aurore Bergé at the Ministry for Equality and the fight against discrimination.
Bardella: «Bayrou government ridiculous»
They also arrive with the appointments of the new executive the first controversies. Jordan Bardella's comment is sharp: «Luckily, ridicule doesn't kill. Unfortunately, the French were spared nothing: François Bayrou put together a failed coalition. In 2025, more than ever, the RN will be present to defend and protect our compatriots, awaiting the handover””.
Il secretary of the socialist party, Olivier Faure, accuses on Twitter: «It's not a government, it's a provocation. The far right in power under surveillance by the far right.” Criticisms similar to those of Marine Tondeliernational secretary of Europe Ecologie les Verts, who commenting on the composition of the new French government on Twitter writes: «Francois Bayrou said that, unlike Michel Barnier, he would not put himself in the hands of the Rassemblement National, yet that is exactly what he has just done. Marine Le Pen will make him jump rope until he and his government fall.”
December 23, 2024 (changed December 23, 2024 | 7:49 pm)
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