France: the right comes into force in government

Text by: RFI Follow

4 mins

In France, we know the composition of the government of Jean Castex. The announcement was made this Monday in the early evening, on the peron of the Élysée Palace as tradition dictates. Some surprises but few major changes and a rise in power of right-wing ministers two years before the presidential election.

Publicity

Bruno Le Maire confirmed at the Ministry of Economy and Recovery, Gérald Darmanin at the Interior, - an ultra strategic portfolio -, Sébastien Lecornu transferred to the Overseas Territories, an incoming Roselyne Bachelot, former Minister of Nicolas Sarkozy, at the Culture, all under the control of Prime Minister Jean Castex, also from the right.

Two years before the presidential election, after an environmental push at the municipal level and a pandemic episode, Emmanuel Macron therefore chose to strengthen his right wing, or in any case to trust him, to rely on ministers from the right.

Another way of hampering presidential ambitions in this camp: Prime Minister Jean Castex and the new Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin both worked with Xavier Bertrand in particular.

Note however that in addition to Roselyne Bachelot, columnist and more responsible politician in recent years, tackles the young guard LR. Emmanuel Macron failed to poach new profiles on the right. No hemorrhage at the party The Republicans where this Monday evening they were several to push a sigh of relief.

► Read also: Government: Darmanin in the Interior, Bachelot in Culture and Dupond-Moretti in Justice

Economy : no big changes

To carry out the recovery - the first major project of the new government - the executive has decided not to upset the Ministry of the Economy. Bruno Le Maire remains the holder. If his budget colleague Gérald Darmanin obtained his transfer to the Interior, the rest of the teams remain in place to carry out the heavy work ahead.

It is therefore not without great surprise that Bruno Le Maire keeps his post. Before the reshuffle was announced, there were no rumors of a replacement. Its ministry is even widened to become that of the Economy, Finances and Recovery.

It is that the exit of the summer promises to be full of threats to the health of companies, and employment with a wave of dreaded social plans and its procession of unemployed. Bruno Le Maire and his team will have to stay at the bedside of the economy hit by recession and complete the ambitious recovery plan expected for after the summer.

Bruno Le Maire will remain accompanied by Olivier Dussopt and Agnès Pannier-Runacher who take up their stripes to become ministers delegated to the Budget and to Industry respectively. A choice of experience and which also applies to Elisabeth Borne who goes from Transport to Work. She will be supported by a new entrant, Brigitte Klinkert, in charge of Integration.

It will have a lot to do between the challenges of unemployment and reforms like those of pensions and unemployment insurance, contested by the social partners. One of its members entered government: Alain griset, now ex-president of the Union of local businesses which will be responsible for the file of small and medium-sized enterprises.

New government projects

Jean Castex has said it since his appointment at Matignon: his priority will be to revive the economy. But on the Prime Minister's table, there is also the resumption of the pension reform and the "  Ségur de la Santé  ". Olivier Véran will remain at the helm. The Minister of Health wants to conclude negotiations as soon as possible on the means of the hospital and the remuneration of carers.

Another priority for Emmanuel Macron: ecology. After the green wave at the municipal level, the choice of Barbara Pompili at the Ministry of the Ecological Transition is supposed to give a new layer of green to the quinquennium.

On royal territory, the head of state also sends signals. With less than 2 years of the presidential election, he wants to regain control. The departure of Christophe Castaner, disputed within the police, and his replacement by Gérald Darmanin can be seen as a new departure. Same scenario with the Justice: the tenor of the bar Eric Dupond-Moretti replaces Nicole Belloubet, weakened, it, by the strike of the lawyers.

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• France
• French politics
• Jean Castex
• Emmanuel Macron

On the same subject

Government: Darmanin in the Interior, Bachelot in Culture and Dupond-Moretti in Justice

Today the economy

Why Jean Castex focuses on reviving the economy