Paris (AFP)

Some surprises, few catches and a game of musical chairs: the reshuffle of the government has only shaken up the balances, even if the right gains a key position with Gérald Darmanin at the Interior.

- Chef's surprises

True to his reputation as a "disrupter", Emmanuel Macron managed to create surprise by appointing the chiraquienne Roselyne Bachelot to Culture and the penalist Eric Dupond-Moretti to Justice, "two entrants who move", estimates the political scientist Pascal Perrineau.

For the lawyer from Lille, a sympathizer on the left, the task promises to be difficult as he has managed to attract strong enmities in the judiciary during a career marked by some 145 acquittals. If his appointment was well received by lawyers, the president of the USM, the majority union among magistrates saw it as "a declaration of war".

The risk is also great for Roselyne Bachelot, who has become a regular on television sets and a popular media figure - including on the left - after her retirement from political life in 2012. Galvanized during the Covid-19 crisis for having seen her precautionary policy at the Ministry of Health during the H1N1 epidemic finally hailed after ten years of criticism, it could appear again divisive in a ministry deemed difficult.

- Two super ministries

By recovering the Budget in addition to the Economy and Finances, Bruno Le Maire becomes the all-powerful boss of Bercy, responsible for "Relaunch" in the light of a severe economic and social crisis. It also obtains three delegated ministries: Public Accounts, Industry and SMEs.

Barbara Pompili, ex-EELV who went to La République en Marche, is propelled to the Ecological Transition, a ministry to which Transport and Housing are now attached. "We can clearly see that the recommendations of the Citizen's Climate Convention have been accepted", judge Pascal Perrineau.

But, he also believes, "it is more perceived as a sanction for Élisabeth Borne (who previously held this position) than a promotion for Barbara Pompili", the evidence of which remains to be done.

The fact remains that the architecture of government, a time promised to be redesigned into several major poles, is only modified at the margin. Observers note, however, the creation of a Ministry of the Sea, deemed strategic at the time of Brexit.

- Darmanin promotion

Bitterly discussed throughout the day on Monday, the Interior portfolio finally fell to Gérald Darmanin: After Jean Castex to Matignon and Bruno Le Maire, "it is a clear way of giving to personalities from the right of the posts regaliens ", according to the political scientist.

One who was re-elected in the first round mayor of Tourcoing, and who has never hidden his appetites for this position, is however faced with a difficulty: a preliminary investigation targeting him for rape has recently been reopened, but this is not "not an obstacle", estimated the entourage of the president.

In this position, some imagine him especially as the best placed to claim Matignon in the event of re-election of Emmanuel Macron in 2022.

- Musical chairs

"We take the same in another order and we try not to start again ..." smiles Pascal Perrineau. Some heavyweights even keep their portfolios: in addition to Bruno Le Maire, Jean-Yves Le Drian (Foreign Affairs), Jean-Michel Blanquer (Education), Florence Parly (Armies), Jacqueline Gourault (Cohesion of territories), Frédérique Vidal (Higher education ), Marc Fesneau (Relations with the Parliament), Jean-Baptiste Djebbari (Transport) sometimes with extended powers.

Other former Philippe governments remain in new ministries: in addition to Mr. Darmanin, Elisabeth Borne (Work), Sébastien Lecornu (Overseas), Julien Denormandie (Agriculture), Annick Girardin (Sea), Amélie de Montchalin (Function public), Franck Riester (Foreign Trade), Emmanuelle Wargon (Housing), Olivier Dussopt (Public Accounts), Marlène Schiappa (Citizenship) or Gabriel Attal who becomes spokesperson for the government.

- The absents

"There are no big mayors or big local elected officials", such as a tense weather, notes Pascal Perrineau: only incoming from a local authority, Brigitte Klinkert, departmental councilor of Haut-Rhin.

Like Prime Minister Jean Castex, she had her card with LR until then.

- LREM to the penalty

The historic "walkers" are the least well off: Christophe Castaner and Sibeth Ndiaye were notably ousted, even if the latter said that she had refused deputy minister positions for "personal convenience".

"Emmanuel Macron notes that LREM has not been able to generate heavy weight. For the three big functions, we continue to turn to right-wing personalities", argues Pascal Perrineau who anticipates "a lower place for LREM in the majority" .

The balance with the partners is however preserved: the MoDem (three positions) and Agir (one position) keep their positions.

© 2020 AFP