This is one of the lessons, noted in particular by the opposition, after the announcement of the government of Gabriel Attal. No woman has been appointed to head a “regular” ministry, Catherine Colonna having been replaced by Stéphane Séjourné at the head of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. But what does this term “regalian” which regularly comes up in political language actually mean?
This is anything that depends directly on the authority of the State or its representatives. Either the police, the justice system or even the army. Regarding the ministries, those of the Interior, Justice and the Armed Forces are therefore logically part of them, but the Council of State has somewhat broadened the definition to two other fields: those of the economy and foreign affairs. .
Four women in government positions since 2017
Thus, the sovereign ministers of the Attal government are Bruno Le Maire (Economy), Eric Dupond-Moretti (Justice), Stéphane Séjourné (Foreign Affairs), Gérald Darmanin (Interior) and Sébastien Lecornu (Armies). This is therefore the first time, under the presidency of Emmanuel Macron, that no woman has occupied a state position.
Under the first government of Edouard Philippe, Sylvie Goulard was appointed to the Ministry of the Armed Forces, before being replaced by Florence Parly. Nicole Belloubet was, for her part, at the head of the Ministry of Justice, before giving way to Éric Dupond-Moretti in the government of Jean Castex where Florence Parly had been returned to the Armed Forces. However, apart from this trio, to which was added Catherine Colonna, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of Élisabeth Borne, no other woman has led a sovereign portfolio since 2017.
Only two women Ministers of the Interior and the Economy in the Fifth Republic
In the history of the Fifth Republic, only one woman has held the position of Minister of the Interior, in this case Michèle Alliot-Marie, in the first government of François Fillon, under the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy. It was also under this mandate that the only Minister of the Economy in history was appointed, namely Christine Lagarde, today President of the European Central Bank.
The absence of women in senior positions in the Attal government was particularly pointed out by the environmentalist MP Sandrine Rousseau. “We are here, fresh, relaxed about the great cause,” she wrote on that he would make equality between men and women the “great cause” of his five-year term.
No woman in a sovereign ministry.
We are here, cool, relaxed about the great cause. #Reshuffle— Sandrine Rousseau (@sandrousseau) January 11, 2024