They probably did not have time to be offered a first appointment with Pôle Emploi. Not even to cross the street. This summer seems to have been fruitful for former ministers of Emmanuel Macron in search of a new job, after their time in government. They are a dozen to have inherited, thanks to a presidential boost, prestigious positions in the public or semi-public sector, sometimes unrelated to their initial skills. An old practice that goes more and more badly with opposition and institutions.
Latest this week: the appointment of Brigitte Bourguignon, to the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS), this Wednesday, August 31. The ephemeral former Minister of Health, was appointed Inspector General of Social Affairs at the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS). Defeated in the legislative elections in June by her opponent from the National Rally, Christine Engrand, in the 6th constituency of Pas-de-Calais (for only 56 votes), she had to leave the ministry she had held since the end of May, after five years. as Minister Delegate in charge of Autonomy.
On August 16, former minister Emmanuelle Wargon was appointed head of the energy regulator by Emmanuel Macron himself. “By decree of the President of the Republic dated August 16, 2022, Mrs. Emmanuelle Wargon is appointed President of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE)”, can we read in a brief text published in the Official Journal. Emmanuelle Wargon is appointed “for a non-renewable term of six years”, specifies the CRE in a press release. She replaces Jean-François Carenco, who has become Minister Delegate for Overseas Territories, despite the opposition of a majority of parliamentarians. Many of them spoke out against this promotion, without being able to block it because they did not reach the required threshold of three-fifths of the votes cast. She had received 43 votes for and 48 against her appointment to both chambers. With our colleagues from the JDD, the socialist deputy Philippe Brun regrets this appointment and points out “this feat of the prince, this impression that we win every time: either we are elected deputy, or we lose and we become president of an authority “.
Former Prime Minister Jean Castex met with a little less opposition to his new function. Indeed, the parliamentarians overwhelmingly validated his appointment to the presidency of the Agency for financing transport infrastructures in France, on August 18, on the proposal of the government. A position previously held by Christophe Béchu, who became Minister for Ecological Transition in the Borne II government.
In this waltz of presidential decrees, the former Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn, was entitled to hers, catapulted at the end of July into master adviser at the Court of Auditors. A hematologist by profession, she notably directed the National Cancer Institute, before being appointed Minister of Health in 2017 after the election of Emmanuel Macron. Resigning in early 2020 to run for mayor of Paris, Agnès Buzyn was also indicted at the end of 2021 for “endangering the lives of others” in her management of the Covid-19 epidemic.
Sharply beaten by Jérôme Guedj (PS-NUPES) in the legislative elections, Amélie de Montchalin, brief Minister for the Ecological Transition, also had to give way to the government. According to the newspaper Marianne, this HEC graduate will not stay long without doing anything. Since the beginning of August, rumors from the hallway suggest that the former Secretary of State for European Affairs would be approached for a prestigious post of ambassador in a European country. According to the weekly, Amélie de Montchalin could join the French embassy in London or Madrid. “Just the idea ruffles the hair of many diplomats in the ministry. It would be really worrying if Emmanuel Macron appoints a person who has no experience in diplomacy to these coveted positions”, worries a seasoned diplomat with Marianne .
At Air France KLM, voices are raised, there too, against the parachuting of a former minister of Emmanuel Macron. According to information from La Tribune, the former Minister of the Armies, Florence Parly, could well take the presidency – non-executive – of the group. A company she knows well since she worked there for eight years, notably within the deputy general management of Air France Cargo, but also as a member of the executive committee. After leaving the airline in complicated conditions, Florence Parly could thus return through the front door. His candidacy, supported by the State (28.6% shareholder), worries the Air France pilots’ union (SPAF), which points to its “disastrous” balance sheet at Air France Cargo and “does not want Air France remains the gilded cupboard of high officials”. But his appointment, if proposed, will have to await the agreement of the High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life (HATVP).