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Prime Minister Edouard Philippe (d) and government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux at a press conference in Paris, January 9, 2019. Christophe Ena / Pool via REUTERS

Six days before the start of the "Great National Debate" to respond to the crisis of "yellow vests" in France, the government still has to settle several issues. And first the replacement of Chantal Jouanno, who was to organize it. " We will be ready, " assured Prime Minister Edouard Philippe at the end of the government seminar back to school this Wednesday, January 9.

" I regret " this resignation, which, by intervening " late in the process ", adds "additional complexity", recognized Edouard Philippe. Without moving forward, he indicated that he would detail next Monday the final modalities of the debate, after final meetings in Matignon with the social partners and elected officials. In order to offer, according to him, " all the guarantees that will allow the French to see that this impartial debate (...) is transparent and above all useful ". "To debate is also to take into account what has been said (...) and we clearly affirm our willingness to take into account everything that has been said, " he said.

Follow live Prime Minister @EPhilippePM's statement following the government seminar https://t.co/qL7FG653Dr

Government (@gouvernementFR) January 9, 2019

Edward Philippe may see it as a " vicissitude ", repeating that " it is not the people who matter ". The departure of Chantal Jouanno does not facilitate the task of the government. The executive must now find a solution in a hurry. And he has no right to the error. There is no question of being accused of organizing a debate that has been played out beforehand.

Matignon and the Elysée already have several names in mind to choose " indisputable guarantors ", in the words of Edouard Philippe. The idea of ​​a college of several personalities, right, left and civil society, circulates but all options are on the table.

Because it will be necessary to convince the rare pearls to embark on a perilous mission. Their CV, their past statements, their salary will be scrutinized. The Prime Minister is still giving himself some time to find the right cast and to more precisely mark the topics discussed during the meetings. Executive arbitrations will not be announced until Monday, on the eve of the debate.

In the meantime, the spokesman of the government warned: no question of putting on the table of the debate the abortion, the death penalty or the marriage for all. " The big debate is not the big unpacking, " warned Benjamin Griveaux. It is out of the question to return to these " hard-won advances ".