The new French Government, headed by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and whose composition was announced this Thursday, maintains in its portfolios the heavyweights of the previous stage, including the head of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, who sees expanded its powers in the field of energy, and the head of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, a key position in the face of the security challenge of the Paris Olympic Games next summer.
One of the few surprises, although very relevant, that breaks the general line of continuity is the incorporation into the Government of Rachida Dati, a well-known figure from The Republicans (LR, traditional right), who was Minister of Justice under Nicolas Sarkozy and has now been appointed head of Culture.
For many years a councilor of Paris, Dati currently served as mayor of the capital’s 7th district and, at the same time, as a tough leader of the opposition to the socialist Anne Hidalgo. Dati had long defended an alliance between LR and the Macronists. Her entry into the Executive has been an unexpected political maneuver.
The Ministers of Defense, Sébastien Lecornu, and Justice, Éric Dupond-Moretti, retain their positions. The former was considered for days as a possible option for the head of government before Macron opted for Attal. Regarding Dupond-Moretti, his continuity was almost obligatory after being acquitted in a trial in which he was accused of conflict of interest and abuse of his position.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, leaves the Executive, whose management has been weak. She is replaced by Stéphane Séjourné, current MEP and general secretary of Macron’s party, Renaissance. It so happens that Séjourné and Attal were married a few years ago (through the civil solidarity pact, equivalent to marriage). But it is not known for sure whether they are still a couple or not.
Its spokesperson, Olivier Véran, doctor and Minister of Health during the pandemic, also leaves the Government. He is replaced in this risky role by the current Secretary of State for Youth, Prisca Thevenot, 38, who grew up in a family of immigrants from the Mauritius Islands. The head of Labor, Olivier Dussopt, leaves the Government, badly burned by the pension reform and prosecuted for allegedly accepting gifts when he was mayor. He is replaced by Catherine Vautrin, coming from the right.
The current Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, will head a super ministry that will include National Education – the portfolio that Attal held -, Youth and Sports. This combination has caused perplexity, taking into account the minister’s responsibility for the Olympic event and the importance given to public schools in France.
One of the difficulties in drawing up the list of ministers has been respecting parity between men and women. There is not one at the level of the ministers with the most power, so it will have to be compensated when all the delegate ministers (second rank) and the secretaries of State are appointed. All of them are legally part of the Government.
According to article 8 of the Constitution, which dates back to 1958, from the time of Charles de Gaulle, it is up to the President of the Republic to appoint the ministers, at the proposal of the Prime Minister. In practice, however, it is the head of state who decides. Macron and Attal have met several times at the Elysée, for lunch and dinner, in recent days, with the aim of finalizing the list and evaluating all the pros and cons of those chosen, the balancing act and the repercussions.
One of the unknowns is what real role Attal himself will have as prime minister. At 34 years old, he is the youngest head of government of the Fifth Republic. His subordination to the president is clear under the Constitution, and in his case perhaps even more so. Commentators wonder to what extent he will be able to put a stamp on the work of government, without limiting himself to being a skillful spokesperson, thanks to his communication skills and youthful dynamism, of the policies conceived and controlled by Macron and his advisors. in the Elysée.
