Since the result of the legislative elections and the absence of an absolute majority for the Head of State, power has moved to the Palais-Bourbon, which has regained its luster after being relegated to the background for two decades. Result: the executive will have to negotiate with unexpected parliamentary officials since many of the political tenors have deserted the hemicycle.
It’s the chance of the supporting roles. Yaël Braun-Pivet becomes the first woman to preside over the National Assembly thanks to the defeat of walker Richard Ferrand. The tenacious Aurore Berger inherits the presidency of the group from the Renaissance group after the fall of the outgoing Christophe Castaner. The very discreet Jean-Paul Mattei is catapulted to the head of the Modem group by François Bayrou to take the reins in place of Patrick Mignola rejected by the voters of the 4th constituency of Savoy. Still in the majority, the Corsican Laurent Marcangeli will chair the “Horizons” group which brings together the friends of Edouard Philippe. Initially, the position was to go to Pierre-Yves Bournazel beaten in Paris.
In the other parliamentary groups, new faces are also emerging. Mathilde Panot, close to Jean-Luc Mélenchon, is confirmed at the head of the rebels and will be able to take off in the media. Ten years after leaving the post of deputy secretary general of the Elysée, the socialist Boris Vallaud reaches the light at the head of the PS group. The discreet and intractable deputy of Eure-et-Loir Olivier Marleix joined the circle of the bosses of the Republican right. The son of Nicolas Sarkozy’s former minister benefits from both the rallying of Damien Abad to the majority and the desertion of several LR figures who have chosen to retain the management of their communities (Laurent Wauquiez, Xavier Bertrand, etc.).
Darmanin disconnected by Macron
Between the consequences of the end of multiple mandates and the political calculations of certain leaders, the Assembly was no longer the political arena it had been for many decades. In the hemicycle resulting from the last legislative elections, there are no former Presidents of the Republic (François Hollande finally gave up running, nor former Prime Minister (Manuel Valls was beaten), no former Minister Ministers of the Interior, nor former Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ministers of the Economy and Finances. Social Affairs among others).
“There are no more alligators in the National Assembly”, notes one of the current heavyweights of the government of Elisabeth Borne. It is no coincidence that Gérald Darmanin, elected deputy from the North, very seriously considered running for the presidency of the National Assembly. Emmanuel Macron, in person, asked him to remain in his post as Minister of the Interior. The elected representative of Tourcoing was even ready to chair the Renaissance group. Anxious to keep strong ministers in the Borne team which will probably be reorganized next Monday, Emmanuel Macron gave the walkers a chance.
Philippe, Wauquiez and Mélenchon miss the mark
By dint of political calculations, other ambitious people such as Edouard Philippe or Laurent Wauquiez or even the veteran François Bayrou may have been wrong to give up a mandate as a deputy. A platform at the Palais-Bourbon in a hemicycle without strong heads could have served their presidential purpose. The first preferred his town hall in Le Havre. The second remains at the head of the Auvergne / Rhône-Alpes region even if he remains in ambush since he is a substitute for the LR deputy for Haute-Loire Isabelle Valentin. Jean-Luc Mélenchon made a big mistake by renouncing his post as deputy for Bouches-du-Rhône. This ardent partisan of the parliamentary regime deserted the Assembly at a time when his words could have enabled him to make an even greater impression on public opinion. His relatives will scrap in his place but he will no longer be in the cauldron. The guru of the rebellious missed the boat. A box that Marine Le Pen has not missed. The former presidential candidate has chosen to chair the National Rally group herself (unlike the communist Fabien Roussel who gives way to André Chassaigne). The elected Pas-de-Calais understood that she could make this combat post a political rear base with human and financial resources. The opportunity also to demonstrate its credibility and respectability.