Paris (AFP)
The former socialist minister Ségolène Royal said on Sunday that he was contacted by "a close friend" of Emmanuel Macron to enter the government of Jean Castex, and judged that it would only "make sense" if she could carry out a policy "more social, more ecological, more democratic".
A source close to the head of state told AFP that the former minister had "never been called".
"I was called by someone close to the president (...) yesterday (Saturday)," she said on BFMTV.
What did she say? "I am respectful of institutions, I have been very kind, very respectful, we are facing a very serious economic crisis, we know who I am, what I said about what is happening today in France for three years, we know my convictions ", she explained.
So "I said, if it is to pursue a more social, more ecological, more democratic policy, make me a proposal. And here we are."
"If I can be useful to my country why not, but (...) it only makes sense if it is to have the means to conduct a more social, more ecological and more democratic policy", insisted l former candidate for the presidency of the Republic, stressing not wanting to "betray (his) commitments".
After the green wave in the big cities with the municipal ones, Jean Castex, resulting from the Republicans, is it the man of the situation? "We must give him time, judge the acts," she said.
Asked moreover about the will of the new Prime Minister to settle "in the short term" the file of the retirements, Mrs. Royal asked if there was "still urgency to go to provoke" on this reform, if one could "allow yourself to clear up misunderstandings and revolts" and if "the social partners have time to deal with this when there are social plans announced in all territories".
"Politicians hate to say they were wrong," she said.
Emmanuel Macron and his Prime Minister Jean Castex continue their consultations Sunday with "the objective of forming a new government for Monday in the day", announced the Elysee.
© 2020 AFP