Elisabeth Borne saves her place at Matignon. President Emmanuel Macron has, in fact, confirmed the head of government in her functions. And entrusted him with the task of making “adjustments” within his government. Emmanuel Macron will explain himself “by the end of the week” on the course he intends to pursue at the start of the school year, the president’s entourage announced on Monday.
“July 14 was a success”
“To ensure stability and substantive work, the President of the Republic has decided to maintain the Prime Minister,” said this source. For her part, the entourage of the head of government indicated that she wanted “adjustments” from her team, which she intends to propose “this week”.
“The objective of 100 days has been met and calm has returned”, noted the same source, referring to the 100 days set by the Head of State in mid-April to regain control after the pension crisis and the riots that set France ablaze at the end of June.
“July 14 was a success”, continues the presidential entourage, while fears of a new outbreak of violence on the occasion of the National Day have not been confirmed. “The country is moving forward. The executive must work and prepare for the start of the school year,” he also welcomes. In this context, Emmanuel Macron “intends to prepare for the start of the school year by recalling the clear course which is his and by bringing together strongly after this period”.
“No choice”
“The country is moving forward. The executive must work and prepare for the start of the school year”, we still welcome at the Elysée. Emmanuel Macron, who invited the ministers and their spouses for dinner on Tuesday, “intends to prepare for the start of the school year by recalling the clear course which is his and by bringing together strongly after this period”, we add from the same source, while for For the time being, the executive has been unable to form a clear majority in the Assembly.
The riots at the end of June had initially put off the prospect of a reshuffle, but once the embers were extinguished, the rumors had resumed with renewed vigor, ranging from a simple technical adjustment to a change of Prime Minister.
The Head of State finally decided to “maintain” Borne at Matignon… which also suggests that he thought of parting with it. “It’s not impossible” that he thought of someone else, says a majority official.
But the president “had no choice” but to keep it, according to this official. Because “after the riots, changing her would have meant that she was partly responsible, and naming Gérald Darmanin (often-quoted Interior Minister, editor’s note) was changing lines”.
Beyond the reappointment of the Prime Minister, difficulties are already looming on the horizon. Deprived of an absolute majority, Elisabeth Borne indeed risks resorting to 49.3 again – with a motion of censure as a result – to have the budgetary texts adopted, and perhaps also the bill on immigration on which the right does not don’t want to give in.
For Arnaud Benedetti, editor-in-chief of the Political and Parliamentary Review, the renewal of Elisabeth Borne “is a way of extending the 100 days and saving time” given the “constrained” balance of power in the Assembly . “It’s a solution of continuity while waiting for better days”.
“Up to the Rope”
Another leader of the majority sees no “real reason to disembark” Elisabeth Borne, who has “shown that she could make Parliament work”. “She is involved, tenacious”, both “technical and political”.
The reshuffles, “we must not use them every year”, adds this executive who sees the Prime Minister “holding up until the Europeans”. Maybe in the end, Emmanuel Macron “wants to wear him out,” adds a former minister.
Could be targeted by the “adjustments” the Secretary of State for Social and Solidarity Economy Marlène Schiappa, beaten in several reports for her management of the Marianne Fund against separatism, or even the Minister of Education Pap Ndiaye, whom some do not consider politics enough, like other ministers from civil society who are struggling to find their place.
Elisabeth Borne has already survived failed legislative elections more than a year ago, then 49.3 used to pass the highly contested pension reform in the spring, and multiple disagreements with the President of the Republic.
Resilient, she will continue her lease started fourteen months ago with a new chief of staff, Jean-Denis Combrexelle, specialist in the Labor Code, appointed Monday morning.