Nineteen entrants and five leavers, including Damien Abad: two weeks after the legislative elections, the government was reshuffled on Monday, a way to fully launch a five-year term which promises to be perilous, as illustrated by the renunciation of Elisabeth Borne to solicit on Wednesday the confidence of Parliament.
Among the notable arrivals, Marlène Schiappa returns, at the helm of the Social and Solidarity Economy. For his part, Gérald Darmanin remains inside. Former mayor of Angers, Christophe Béchu has taken over the Ministry of Ecological Transition. Among the newcomers, the emergency doctor François Braun inherits the Ministry of Health.
A Council of Ministers chaired by Emmanuel Macron was organized in the afternoon. The reshuffle and then the general policy speech of Elisabeth Borne on Wednesday should make it possible to close what has seemed like a long period of uncertainty for the executive since the re-election of Emmanuel Macron on April 24. The new government spokesperson Olivier Véran indicated that the Prime Minister “will not seek the confidence of parliamentarians”.
“The conditions of serenity were no longer present. Asked about the ousting of Damien Abad from the government, the new spokesman for the executive, Olivier Véran, considered that the accusations of rape against the former minister did not allow him “to exercise fully his duties”. “It would have been the exposure to the wrath of Parliament at each start of the school year” and “a lot of investment in time so that he could ensure his defense”, added Olivier Véran after the Council of Ministers.
The government will not submit to a vote of confidence next Wednesday, during Elisabeth Borne’s general policy speech. The Prime Minister will not “solicit the confidence of parliamentarians” on Wednesday, said the new government spokesman, Olivier Véran. This vote is used by MPs to decide whether or not to place their trust in the government. The Macron camp does not have an absolute majority in the National Assembly.
Emmanuel Macron deplored on Monday July 4 the refusal of “government parties” to participate in “any form of coalition”. In his speech given before the first Council of Ministers of the new government of Elisabeth Borne, the President of the Republic considered that “it is appropriate to take note of the lack of will of the parties of government to participate in a government agreement or any form of coalition”.
“You will have to hold on. Emmanuel Macron’s message is clear. If the reshuffle should breathe new life into the government of Elisabeth Borne, the Head of State spoke at the start of the Council of Ministers. The President of the Republic, during this speech, assured that France “needs reforms, transformation. […] You will first have to hold on in this context of war, which changes a lot of things, and build the independence of our country. Our country needs voluntarism […], a spirit of responsibility to build intelligent compromises”. Emmanuel Macron also “noted” the refusal of the oppositions to join a coalition government. “The Prime Minister briefed me on the results of the consultations conducted last week. It is worth noting the lack of will of the parties of government to participate in a government agreement, “he said at the start of the Council of Ministers, the first of the new government.
While rumors are becoming more and more insistent that Elisabeth Borne will not seek the confidence of deputies at the end of her general policy speech, Wednesday, July 6, La France insoumise takes the lead. Mathilde Panot, president of the LFI group in the National Assembly, indicated that her party will table a motion of censure so that “Ms. Borne does not mistreat democracy with impunity” and to bring the Prime Minister “forcibly” before Parliament. .
The new heads of government are entering the Élysée. While some ministers have not changed positions, such as Catherine Colonna, Minister of Foreign Affairs, or the Secretary of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, others such as Christophe Béchu, new Minister of the Ecological Transition, will participate in their first round table around Élisabeth Borne. The Prime Minister must speak at the end of this first meeting.
During the handover, François Braun, Minister of Health, estimated that “our whole health system is out of breath”, promising to tackle “in emergency” the files which await it, including the crisis of the hospital. By succeeding Brigitte Bourguignon, defeated in the legislative elections, he intends to improve a “health system (…) capable of doing extraordinary things, as during the pandemic, but (which) lacks flexibility, visibility, is no longer understood by our fellow citizens or by our caregivers”. “Emergencies (…) are sick, the public hospital is not well, and our whole health system is out of breath,” added the man who has just submitted 41 proposals to the government, as part of a ‘unscheduled care’ flash mission. And to hammer that “there is an urgent need to fight against inequalities in access to health, of which medical deserts are the most terrible emblem”, but also “for the hospital and for the caregivers, overwhelmed by the Covid crisis of which we could not anticipate all the consequences”.
As reactions in the opposition multiply after the announcement of the reshuffle on Monday July 4, Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s response was particularly awaited. In a very critical tweet, the boss of La France insoumise did not mince words to welcome the new ministers. “After the government of the Defense Council, here is the ‘de facto’ government: defeated in the elections, maintained by the sole favor of the prince,” he quipped. Her message continues by referring to rumors about the lack of organization of a vote of confidence by Elisabeth Borne. “No vote of confidence for MPs?” Macron will dissolve the people who elected them? he wondered.
Confined to the Ministry of Relations with Parliament after the re-election of Emmanuel Macron, Olivier Véran will find the light of a very exposed position. Indeed, appointed government spokesperson during the second reshuffle, Monday July 4, the former Minister of Health succeeds Olivia Grégoire. “Our responsibility is to make our action audible” and “I am committed to speaking the truth, to speaking fairly,” he said during the handover on Monday. If he retains the portfolio of “Democratic Renewal”, as Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister, Oliver Véran has always gone to the front to defend the policy led by Emmanuel Macron. He will be the “voice of the French”, he assured during speeches.
The transfer to the Ministry of Relations in Parliament was an opportunity for Olivier Véran, new government spokesperson, to express himself on the importance of his former ministry which is the “heart of the reactor of this five-year period”. Addressing his successor, Franck Riester, he invited him to “correct the situation on the left as well as on the right”. For his part, the former Minister of Culture took the opportunity to thank Emmanuel Macron. for his appointment. “I am happy to be in this ministry, but aware of the responsibility that is mine,” the new minister said.
Ousted from the government on Monday, Damien Abad leaves his ministry “with regret”. Accused of rape, the former minister denounced “despicable slanders” and announced that he wanted to “defend himself without hindering the action of the government”. “Slander has become a political weapon,” he said on his handover, while “warmly thanking Emmanuel Macron.” According to the deputy, these “skillfully orchestrated slanders” would be “a fatal movement which relegates the presumption of innocence to the rank of old stuff”.
Damien Abad denounces “despicable slanders” when he leaves the Ministry of Solidarity pic.twitter.com/71l0FE3Tv5
