We can no longer count the departure rumors about him. But 18 months after her arrival at rue de Varenne, Élisabeth Borne is still in place. Internal rivalries (with Gérald Darmanin?) will not have got the better of her, just like criticism of its supposed brutality, earning her charming nicknames such as “Mechanta”, “Madame Borne-Out” or even “Darth Vader”. Exaggerations? Not necessarily, if we believe Point.
“The Macronists secretly tell each other about the terrible scenes they swear they witnessed“, writes journalist Nathalie Schuck. Her former chief of staff, who became Minister of Health, even suffered ridicule about her appearance. “During a meeting, she turns to her then chief of staff, Aurélien Rousseauand tells him straight out before bursting out laughing: ‘Hey, you’ve gained weight again!‘“Another scene, already relayed in the press:”She asks an advisor where the form she asked for is located. The advisor, trembling, replied: ‘In the shirt in front of you, Madam Prime Minister.’ She opens it, closes it immediately, turns to him, face closed: ‘No, that’s not a note, it’s rubbish!’“
>>> Discover our slideshow on Élisabeth Borne and the ministers in their early days
Aurélien Rousseau, worn by Élisabeth Borne?
This summer, the departure of Aurélien Rousseau caused a lot of talk. Impossible to work in Matignon? “Need some rest“had justified a relative in The Parisian, while many councilors left rue de Varenne. The Prime Minister’s entourage also spoke of “a very intense year at Matignon during which numerous texts were voted on in Parliament – in a context of relative majority – and the pension reform carried out.” But Aurélien Rousseau did not completely distance himself from Élisabeth Borne, by joining the Ministry of Health a month later.
Photo credits: Raphael Lafargue/Pool/Bestimage