On all fronts, Jean Castex defends his ministers Darmanin and Dupond-Moretti

Interview in the morning of BFMTV / RMC, questions to the government in the National Assembly and in the Senate, meeting with the social partners, visit of the Bobigny court ... The new Prime Minister, Jean Castex, defended, Wednesday July 8, his choices and his ministers, notably Gérald Darmanin, subject to a rape complaint.

Jean Castex also announced his trip to Guyana on Sunday, where the Covid-19 virus is actively circulating.

After having, the day before, made a surprise appearance at the Ségur de la santé to announce an extension of the envelope devoted to increasing wages, and while his government is on Wednesday under the fire of questions from parliamentarians, the Prime Minister answered those of Jean-Jacques Bourdin on BFMTV and RMC.

"I am before you, Prime Minister of President Macron in a government of unity and cohesion, with only one concern: action, the crisis that is coming," he warned. "I am first of all a free man", even if "I know what I owe to such and such", he insisted, assuming the "common choice" with the head of state of his ministers.

>> Read: Dupond-Moretti and Darmanin, two nominations that go wrong with feminists

"I fully assume this designation, [Gérald Darmanin] is entitled like everyone else to the presumption of innocence", explained the head of government, while the new Minister of the Interior, targeted by a rape complaint, had to face the anger of feminists, some of whom tried to disrupt the handover with his predecessor Christophe Castaner, by calling for his resignation. Gérald Darmanin would not have been named "if, in my soul and conscience, having looked at the subject, I had had the slightest doubt, the slightest interrogation", he assured.

The head of government also defended Eric Dupond-Moretti, a "formidable" man, appointed Keeper of the Seals so that "the public service of justice works better", announcing in passing an increase in the justice budget without however specifying the amount. Jean Castex and Éric Dupond-Moretti were expected Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Bobigny court, the second largest jurisdiction in France.

The objective of this government is that justice works better. We appointed Eric Dupond-Moretti to defend it and give it back the means. pic.twitter.com/zmWoJsaRlD

Towards the creation of a High Commission for Planning

The head of government will also multiply on the social front. He wishes to reunite "together" the social partners "before July 20" on the pension file in particular, after having received them separately on Thursday 9 and Friday 10, in order to "decide on a method and a calendar".

My responsibility is to resume the dialogue. I invited all the social partners to come and see me to define a method and a timetable. I wish to restart negotiations before July 20. pic.twitter.com/fwUVKZEflg

He also said he wanted to "postpone the implementation" of the unemployment insurance reform, which the unions were calling for.

The Prime Minister also wishes to set up a High Commission for Planning, to "re-enlighten public action with a long-term vision", and has not excluded that François Bayrou, head of MoDem, be appointed to head .

With the values ​​which are mine, I have the honor to lead a Government of combat and dialogue, turned to efficiency to fight against the crisis. pic.twitter.com/YLQcM1A9Jf

The new government took its first steps on Wednesday in the heart of the parliamentary arena with traditional topical question sessions, at 11 a.m. in the National Assembly and then at 3 p.m. in the Senate. After that, MEPs will resume consideration of the third draft crisis budget.

Secretaries of State to be appointed soon

The government team is not quite complete, since it will soon welcome "the entry of Secretaries of State on priority missions", said Tuesday the new spokesman Gabriel Attal, in order to finalize this "combat government".

Emmanuel Macron set "four main lines" of action: "reconstruction" of the country plagued by the coronavirus crisis, "republican patriotism" with the defense of the police and the justice system, better dialogue with partners on the ground and Europe.

The President of the Republic will specify his course for the rest of the quinquennium during an interview on July 14. Then the Prime Minister can make his general policy statement to the Assembly.

Until then, the government will meet in a seminar on Saturday morning. At this point, it is made up of sixteen ministers, fourteen deputy ministers and a secretary of state, most of whom were in the previous government.

With AFP

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