François Bayrou could be forced to step up the pace to appoint his government. Will Emmanuel Macron’s pressure boost have the desired effect?
Trouble between the Elysée and Matignon. “My deadline is this week” to name the future government, indicated François Bayrou from Pau, Monday December 16, after the Municipal Council which he chaired. “But the President of the Republic must also be there,” he added. A remark that did not please the head of state, who was quick to respond.
By implying that Emmanuel Macron’s agenda could be an obstacle to the smooth running of the process, and could delay the announcement of the future executive, François Bayrou may have triggered a first controversy with the palace. This is why the president is “awaiting the proposals” from the Prime Minister this Tuesday evening, “following his consultations”, indicated a close friend of the president to Politico.
A “startup architecture” determined this Tuesday?
François Bayrou embarked on a series of consultations by receiving, on rue de Varenne, the presidents of the parliamentary groups, in order of numerical importance. Marine Le Pen (RN), Gabriel Attal (EPR), Boris Vallaud (PS) and Laurent Wauquiez (LR) opened the ball on Monday. The second salvo is planned for this Tuesday with the leaders of the Ecologists, MoDem, Horizons, LIOT, GDR and UDR groups. For its part, LFI declined the invitation.
These consultations aim to find compromises for Béarnais, where his predecessor failed according to the vice-president of the National Assembly, Roland Lescure: “Michel Barnier wanted to move quickly, which was insufficiently worked on”, he judges at the microphone of RTL. Compromises, yes, but for when? While the tenant of Matignon had given the impression of wanting to take his time, everything could speed up.
This Tuesday, December 17, the president of the Les Démocrates group in the National Assembly, Marc Fesneau, told the press that Emmanuel Macron and François Bayrou were to meet this afternoon to discuss a “start-up architecture”. What can we hope for from the first names during the day? In any case, this is the wish of the President of the Republic, in a hurry, and perhaps slightly annoyed. However, the Prime Minister’s entourage confirmed this Tuesday that the Béarnais will pronounce its general policy declaration (DPG) on January 14, 2025. A relatively distant date, which could, conversely, suggest that the negotiations could be pursue. The announcement of the future government would then be delayed.
A government of tenors, tight and trans-partisan
Behind the scenes, negotiations are in full swing. With a view to openness, François Bayrou is casting a wide net to form his “government bringing together experienced men and women who know what the daily life of the French is like”, as specified in La Tribune Dimanche. According to information from L’Opinion, the socialist Jérôme Guedj was approached for the Ministry of Health. The names of Pierre Moscovici and the former socialist mayor of Dijon, François Rebsamen also come up insistently. “If he asked me, I would be willing. But I do not want to be the only left-wing guarantor of this government,” explained the second quoted in the columns of Le Figaro. With this type of profile, it would be a potential trans-partisan team, responsible for overcoming divisions and working towards a non-censorship agreement.
At the same time, the Prime Minister also wants to see Macronist leaders included in his executive’s organizational chart. This is why Gérald Darmanin could well make his return. Sébastien Lecornu (Armies), Rachida Dati (Culture) and Catherine Vautrin are in a good position to keep their place. According to information from Le Figaro, François Bayrou also “exchanged a lot” with Elisabeth Borne, former Prime Minister. She had even “refused the Army portfolio at the start of the year, a consolation prize that Emmanuel Macron offered her by removing her from Matignon”, reports the daily. According to a relative of the Calvados MP, “it is likely that she will accept” a position in the new Bayrou executive. It now remains to know the name of the targeted, hoped for and/or granted portfolio.
On the right, it’s rather grimace soup at the start of the week. The Republicans are waiting on their participation in the Bayrou government. After the meeting with LR officials in Matignon, this Monday, the boss of the Republican deputies, Laurent Wauquiez, said he conditioned his participation on a “project that suits him in substance”. “Our participation is not certain, there is too much vagueness at this stage to decide,” he repeated during a group meeting on Tuesday. “We need more details from the PM during a new meeting with a single question to which we are asking for answers: to do what?”, he demanded according to information from BFMTV. According to Politico, François Bayrou should limit his government to 25 ministers and “ give a third of the positions to personalities from the right, a third to Macronists, a third to the left”. Which absolutely does not enchant the LR camp.
