A week since rumors of a government reshuffle have been rife. Emmanuel Macron wants this reshuffle, the executive finding itself weakened by the painful vote on the text on immigration. The scenarios have not changed, but certain government heavyweights have turned their agenda upside down.
Élisabeth Borne is received at the Élysée by Emmanuel Macron
Emmanuel Macron received his Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, at the Élysée on Sunday early evening, in order to discuss “important issues”, according to the president’s entourage, confirming information from BFMTV, against the backdrop of a government reshuffle which could intervene next week.
If the Élysée notably mentioned “the bad weather in Pas-de-Calais and the arrival of the cold wave”, for which the head of state asked to “accelerate responses”, the government is suspended presidential decisions in the coming days regarding the architecture of a new team.
The new government will be at the next Council of Ministers
This is the case of the Minister of Education, Gabriel Attal, who canceled his wishes to the press planned for tomorrow morning, to finally postpone them until January 11. People around him explain that he prefers to make his return to the field rather than at an institutional press conference. But this last minute change can still suggest that something is being prepared within the executive.
In the entourage of the Head of State, the suspense continues. The announcement of the new team could take place this evening, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, laughs a close friend of the President. Whatever happens, it will be in place for the next Council of Ministers scheduled for Wednesday. In the event of a setback, the traditional meeting at the Élysée can always be postponed until Friday.
For Matignon, everything actually seems to be playing out between two members of Emmanuel Macron’s first circle of followers: the former Minister of Agriculture, Julien Denormandie and the current Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu. But the possibility of Elisabeth Borne staying on cannot be completely ruled out either. Supporters of the Prime Minister have pleaded her case to the Head of State in recent days.