Le Monde reports an anecdote about Elisabeth Borne which supports the doubts of certain elected officials about her ability to assume her duties in such an unprecedented political context.
Elisabeth Borne’s first steps at Matignon are not unanimous. Became Prime Minister on May 16, 2022 after having officiated in the Ministry of Labor in the Jean Castex government, Elisabeth Borne is still discovering the codes of her new political role. Evidenced by an anecdote reported by the World following the legislation. The Prime Minister would have sent the same congratulatory message to all elected Renaissance deputies. While some would have been delighted to receive this little note which they thought was personalized, others were disillusioned when they realized that it was in fact from a copy-paste. A rookie mistake that fleshes out the doubts of several elected officials of the majority about it, according to our colleagues. Indeed, if Elisabeth Borne is known to be firm and rigorous, it would seem that her profile raises questions in the face of an unprecedented political configuration which first requires the talents of a fine strategist to find compromises and deal with the opposition. Some elected officials would doubt its ability to bring the reforms before the public.
Elisabeth Borne and the vote of confidence
The legitimacy of Elisabeth Borne is very largely questioning after the second round of the legislative elections: the 131 Nupes deputies demand in particular her resignation or at least that she submit to the traditional vote of confidence, but the Prime Minister leaves the suspense. If not mandatory, the vote of confidence is a deep-rooted tradition which provides for the Prime Minister to appear before the National Assembly and present the priority issues of his government, what is called the policy statement.
All the prime ministers of the Fifth Republic submitted to it. Unconstitutional, the vote of confidence is still highly symbolic. It marks the starting point of a new political impetus. But if the Prime Minister is slow to announce her decision, it is also because she knows that if the elected officials do not place their trust in her, she will be forced to resign from office. As Emmanuel Macron’s parliamentary group does not have a majority, it is likely that Elisabeth Borne will be pushed towards the exit door.