Michel Barnier's new government: “final adjustments”, the casting of ministers is becoming clearer… the latest trends

La LR Rachida Dati pourrait rester ministre de la Culture. MAXPPP

Certains noms proposés par Michel Barnier ont été contestés dans le camp présidentiel.

“Final adjustments, mainly on the phone”… This is how Matignon defined, on Friday, the work that remained to be done before presenting a government to the President of the Republic that same evening.

Adjustments ? Some could be significant. Indeed, the announcement of Bruno Retailleau's arrival at Place Beauvau made waves all day long.

What's stuck

Almost as much as that of Les Républicains senator Laurence Garnier, who is opposed to marriage for all. Expected to obtain the Ministry of Families, she could already be pushed towards the exit.

A change of casting at Bercy is also being considered. While on Friday morning, the walker Thomas Lefevre was tipped to be Minister of Public Accounts, on Friday evening it was Laurent Saint-Martin who was the one holding the rope. Antoine Armand was, for his part, still announced at Finance.

Former chief of staff of Martine Aubry

But if the contours of the future government team have shifted somewhat, some names have remained invariably stable. Like that of Didier Migaud, the president of the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life who is tipped to access the Ministry of Justice.

He could have at his side the deputy Naïma Moutchou, who would be one of the two ministers of the Horizons party of Édouard Philippe. A strange coupling between this former member of the Socialist Party and the very right-wing vice-president of the National Assembly.

The Macronist deputy of the North Violette Spillebout could obtain the Ministry of Education. This former chief of staff of Martine Aubry ran against her in the municipal elections in 2019.

Another important position, that of health, which could be entrusted to the former Minister Delegate for Disabled People Geneviève Darrieussecq.

Lecornu still in the Armed Forces

A number of LR are also expected, such as the senator from the Rhône, François-Noël Buffet, a specialist in security issues, who should be in charge of Overseas Territories. The vice-president of the Assembly, Annie Genevard, is expected to inherit the Ministry of Agriculture. The deputy for the 7th constituency of Bas-Rhin, Patrick Hetzel, who was notably an advisor to François Fillon at Matignon, could inherit the portfolio of higher education.

Finally, Othman Nasrou, a member of the Libres ! party of Valérie Pécresse, regional councilor of Île-de-France, should obtain a ministerial portfolio, in charge of Discrimination and Secularism. Many ministers could remain in place, such as Rachida Dati for Culture and Sébastien Lecornu for the Armed Forces. Catherine Vautrin, the resigning Minister of Labor and Health, would be in charge of the Territories.

Few heavyweights kept

Finally, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister Delegate for Agriculture, is now expected to be in Ecology. Finally, few heavyweights would remain in place.

Enough to satisfy those who felt that a change was necessary after the legislative elections in June.

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