Alexandre Chauveau with AFP / Photo credits: Ludovic MARIN / AFP
The meeting was scrutinized. This Sunday, Emmanuel Macron met Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne. On the agenda of discussions, according to the Head of State’s entourage: bad weather in Pas-de-Calais and the arrival of the cold snap. However, for several days, the hypothesis of a reshuffle has been agitating the corridors of the Élysée. This new government should tighten around those loyal to the head of state.
Several contenders for the post of Prime Minister
Thus, after the return of Jonathan Guemas, former pen of the president appointed head of communications at the Élysée, Emmanuel Macron would like to recall another man who accompanied his rise: Julien Denormandie, former minister and deputy director of his cabinet when he was at Bercy. His name is regularly mentioned among the favorites to take Matignon.
Another contender for the post of Prime Minister: Sébastien Lecornu, member of the president’s inner circle. It was he who came up with the idea of the great national debate after the yellow vest demonstrations. The Minister of the Armed Forces should continue the adventure in a prominent place within the government, just like Gabriel Attal, Gérald Darmanin or Éric Dupond-Moretti.
Ministers from the left threatened
On the outgoing side, ministers resistant to the immigration law, from the left, are particularly threatened, such as Rima Abdul Malak for Culture as well as Clément Beaune for Transport. Emmanuel Macron could replace them with deputies from the majority elected or re-elected in 2022: the names of Maud Bregeon, Karl Olive, or Naïma Moutchou, close to Edouard Philippe, are regularly cited.
Beyond that, Emmanuel Macron plays part of his aura in 2024 on the success of the Olympic Games, which must establish “French pride”. Enough to make the president “fairly determined to make a major move, including changing Prime Ministers”, the same source estimates. This should result in “many leavers” within the current team. Several members of the head of state’s inner circle, including François Bayrou, are also calling for the opportunity to be used to tighten up a government which today has 39 members.
A challenge when we must respect parity, ensure we serve the allies of Horizons and MoDem, and not undermine certain sectors keen to have a minister to represent them. “And that’s how in the end, it takes three weeks and we end up at 48,” quips a close friend of the head of state.