Alexandre Chauveau / Photo credit: XOSE BOUZAS / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP
The immigration bill will be debated from this Monday in committee at the Assembly. In the maneuver, Gérald Darmanin set himself the objective of having his text adopted by a vote and not by a 49.3. If the Minister of the Interior is struggling to bring about a majority, he is also taking the opportunity to prepare for what comes next.
With big lunches or dinners, handshakes and pats on the back with MPs, Gérald Darmanin has been struggling for several weeks. Officially in his ministerial costume, in order to bring out a majority capable of adopting the immigration bill, debated from this Monday in committee at the National Assembly.
Unofficially, to garner support for 2027. The tenant of Place Beauvau is thus increasing the number of trips. “The field is my office,” he repeats over and over again. Faithful to his strategy of occupying space, he never misses an opportunity to recall his popular origins and claims to know how to speak to the people, within a Macronie sometimes considered above ground.
“Old-fashioned” politics
Both his supporters and his detractors agree on one thing: the Minister of the Interior likes to play politics… “the old-fashioned way”, they specify, however. Gérald Darmanin makes this bill a personal challenge: to show that obtaining a majority in the Assembly is possible at a time when Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, with whom relations are more than fresh, is increasing the 49.3.
The Minister of the Interior, who failed to delight Matignon last summer, is thus cajoling elected officials, whether they are mayors, local elected officials and, therefore, deputies. With the hope of being able to count them with him in the future. Their support, particularly that of the Republicans, could be valuable in 2027, with a view to embodying the post-Macron era.