The Élysée has announced a reshuffle of the Government this Thursday, after just over a year of its formation, but the majority of the ministers with the most political weight remain in their posts, including the heads of Economy -Bruno Le Maire-, Interior -Gérald Darmanin- and Foreign Affairs -Catherine Colonna-. The changes have been preceded by weeks of suspense and, according to the French media, a battle between the Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, and the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, who has had the last word.
The most significant novelty has been the appointment of Gabriel Attal, only 34 years old, as the new Minister of National Education - a very relevant portfolio, due to budget and personnel - to replace the historian Pap Ndiaye, of Senegalese father, criticized for his disappointing management. Attal, coming from the Socialist Party, has been part of Macron's close entourage, the so-called "Mormons", since he launched himself to conquer the Elysee in 2016. He has held other positions in the Cabinet. He was now Minister of Public Accounts. He previously served as Secretary of State for Education and also served as a spokesman for the Executive.
According to the 1958 Constitution, made to measure by General De Gaulle and which established a very presidential regime, the appointment of ministers is proposed by the prime minister to the head of state, who can veto names or suggest them. The remodeling, after only 14 months, is a consequence of the strong turmoil caused by the pension reform, a political and social battle that lasted for months, with strikes and demonstrations, and which left the Government and Macron himself exhausted. Even Borne's post did not seem secure. He ultimately saved it, although there is no guarantee that he will keep it until the end of the legislature. Borne is a rather unpopular head of government with limited charisma.
Macron's slowness and hesitation in making decisions can be infuriating. According to the daily Le Parisien, the ministers have been subjected to "Chinese torture" for days. They didn't know if they would continue or not. In a meeting on Wednesday night, Macron himself acknowledged that these are not pleasant moments but they must be faced "with the utmost calm of spirit" and mutual respect. In practice, the way of managing the changes has weakened the Government and especially Borne itself. He has given a feeling of little solidity.
François Braun, who had had a gray mandate, leaves Health and is replaced by Aurélien Rousseau, until now Borne's own chief of staff. Also leaving the Executive is Marlène Schiappa, a well-known character of Macronism, responsible for Social Economy and Associative Life, present in the Government, in various positions, since 2017. Schiappa was involved in a fund management scandal and provoked Macron's anger when, in the midst of the crisis over the pension reform, she gave an interview to Playboy magazine, including photos, which gave an image of frivolity at a delicate moment for the country.
There have also been other relays, which affect, among others, the departments of Housing, Overseas, City and Solidarities. In all cases, an attempt has been made to achieve a political balance that satisfies all tendencies in the presidential party, Renacimiento, and its allies.
The adjustments in the Government are destined to give it strength, more energy, in a period that will continue to be very difficult because the macronistas, since last year's legislative elections, have been in the minority in the National Assembly and also in the Senate. Macron intends to focus efforts on a new immigration law and green initiatives. He will run into, especially on the first point, strong opposition from Los Republicanos (LR, traditional right).
The rise of Attal - married to the secretary general of Renaissance, Stéphane Séjourné - puts him in a good position to, perhaps, dispute Macron's succession. He also attributes that ambition to the Minister of the Interior, Darmanin, and the Economy Minister, Le Maire.
The first Council of Ministers of the new Government will be held this Friday, at 10 in the morning. Macron is expected to address the country to discuss the changes and outline his plans for the medium term. The president had to resolve the remodeling before the trip he is undertaking to New Caledonia, a French territory in the South Pacific, and to various Oceanian countries such as Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea in an attempt to reaffirm the French presence and influence against other powers, especially China.
