Monday’s announcement by the Elysee Palace revealing the composition of the new French government was made. Two weeks after June’s legislative elections, President Emmanuel Macron and his party lost an absolute majority at the National Assembly, which is the lower house in the French Parliament, this Monday, the Executive was reshuffled. Macron called a Council of Ministers today.
After the April presidential elections, Macron appointed Elisabeth Borne as Prime Minister. She will continue to lead the Executive. Borne, a technocrat will deliver her general policy speech on Wednesday to the National Assembly. Macron, who holds a relative majority within the National Assembly, said a few days back that he wants “a government of actions.” The new Executive, which respects male-female parity, is composed of 31 ministers as well as 10 secretaries. These changes are now minimal. As expected, there have not been any major changes to either the left or the right after the strong defeat of Macron’s party at the legislative elections.
Given the refusal of the opposition, there will not be a coalition government. Given the refusal of the opposition to enter the Executive, Macron will be required to reach an agreement with other parties in order to pass laws and implement reforms. Some government heavyweights will remain in their current positions, such as Gerald Darmain (Interior and Overseas), Bruno Le Maire(Economy), Eric Dupond–Moretti (Justice), Catherine Colonna (Foreign Affairs), and Pap Ndiaye (Education), who was appointed to this post in May.
After the legislative elections, three of the members of the Government that had not been elected to the National Assembly were replaced by a remodeling of the Government. The Executive is being dissolved by Amelie de Montchalin (Ecological Transformation) and Brigitte Bouguignon (Health), and Justine Benin (Secretary of State for the Sea), because they lack the support of the voters. They had to also find a replacement to Yael BraunPivet (outside minister), who was elected President of the National Assembly. This is the first female to hold this office.
Damien Abad is the Minister of Solidarity, another notable departure. Abad, who is from the right, was appointed to this post in May. However, several women have accused him of rape, and sexual assault. He denies these accusations. Abad is still employed, though, as he is a deputy to the National Assembly. Jean-Christophe Combe will replace the controversial minister, who was previously director general of French Red Cross.
Chrysoula Zozaropoulou, French Secretary for State for Development, is instead in the Executive. Zacharopoulou is a gynecologist and has been accused of rape by two women. A third woman was also charged with “gynecological abuse” in relation to events that occurred years ago during her medical examinations.
Oliver Veran, the former Minister of Health will serve as the government’s spokesperson. Veran, who has been deputy minister in charge for relations with Parliament since 2005, has extensive communication experience. He was the Minister of Health’s chief, and he immediately informed the French of the progress of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Olivia Gregoire will be stepping down as Government spokesperson in order to become Deputy Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises. This position is dependent on Bercy, Ministry of Economy. Veran will be replaced by Franck Riester (a centrist) who was Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade.
Clement Beaune (ex-Secretary of State for European Affairs) will become the new Minister of Transport. With the strike announcements at French airports this month and at the SCNF (the French RENFE), Beaune’s new position, Beaune will experience a busy debut. Laurence Boone (economist and former advisor to Francois Hollande) will take over as Europe’s new chief.
Francois Braun, an emergency doctor, has been appointed Minister of Health by the French Government. Christophe Bechu (a politician close to Edouard Philippe) will be heading the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Cohesion of the Territories.
It also highlights Marlene Schiappa’s return to Government. She will be responsible for the Social and Solidarity Economy and Associative Life and report directly to Elisabeth Borne, Prime Minister. Schiappa was the Deputy Minister for Citizenship and Secretary to State for Equality between Women, Men during Macron’s first term.
