The new French government led by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, whose composition was announced this Thursday, retains in its portfolios the heavyweights of the previous stage, including the head of economy and finance, Bruno Le Maire, who expands his powers in this field Energy Minister and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin sees a key position given the security challenge of the Olympic Games in Paris next summer.
One of the few, albeit very relevant, surprises that breaks the general line of continuity is the incorporation into the government of Rachida Dati, a well-known Republican figure (LR, traditionally right-wing), who was Minister of Justice under Nicolas Sarkozy and has now been appointed Appointed heads of cultural affairs.
A long-time Paris city councilor, Dati currently served as mayor of the capital's 7th district while also serving as a tough leader of the opposition to socialist Anne Hidalgo. Dati had long defended an alliance between LR and the Macronists. His entry into the executive branch was an unexpected political maneuver.
Rachida Dati smiles in this file picture
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The Ministers of Defense, Sébastien Lecornu, and Justice, Éric Dupond-Moretti, will retain their positions. The former was considered a possible option for the head of government for days before Macron decided on Attal. As for Dupond-Moretti, his continuity was almost mandatory after he was acquitted in a trial in which he was accused of conflict of interest and abuse of office.
Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna leaves the executive branch, whose leadership was weak. She will be replaced by Stéphane Séjourné, the current MEP and secretary general of Macron's Renaissance party. Coincidentally, Séjourné and Attal got married a few years ago (through the civil solidarity pact, synonymous with marriage). However, it is not certain whether they are still a couple or not.
Its spokesman Olivier Véran, a doctor and health minister during the pandemic, is also leaving the government. He will be replaced in this risky role by the current Secretary of State for Youth, Prisca Thevenot, 38, who grew up in an immigrant family from the Mauritius Islands. Labor leader Olivier Dussopt leaves government, badly hurt by pension reform and prosecuted for allegedly accepting gifts as mayor. He is replaced by Catherine Vautrin, who comes from the right.
The current sports minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, will lead a super-ministry that will include national education – the portfolio Attal held – youth and sport. This combination has caused confusion given the minister's responsibility for the Olympic event and the importance given to public schools in France.
One of the difficulties in drawing up the ministerial list was maintaining parity between men and women.
One of the difficulties in drawing up the ministerial list was maintaining equality between men and women. At the ministerial level there is no one with the most power, so this must be balanced when all delegated ministers (second tier) and the state secretaries are appointed. They are all legally part of the government.
According to Article 8 of the 1958 Constitution, i.e. from the time of Charles de Gaulle, the President of the Republic is responsible for appointing ministers on the proposal of the Prime Minister. In practice, however, the head of state decides. Macron and Attal have met several times in recent days for lunch and dinner at the Elysée Palace, with the aim of finalizing the list and weighing all the pros and cons of those chosen, the balancing act and the implications.
One of the unknowns is what role Attal himself will actually play as prime minister. At 34, he is the youngest head of government in the Fifth Republic. His subordination to the president is clear under the Constitution and perhaps even clearer in his case. Commentators wonder to what extent he can make his mark on government work without limiting himself, thanks to his communication skills and youthful dynamism, to being a skillful spokesman for the policies conceived and controlled by Macron and his advisers at the Elysée.