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Behind the scenes: an endless day behind the scenes

2020-07-07T19:44:52.155Z


Until the last minute, the nerves of ministers were put to the test this Monday. The name of the new Minister of the Interior noted


Hours and hours of final negotiations, endless suspense ... for a reshuffle finally revealed at the end of the day. When Alexis Kohler arrives on the steps of the Elysée Palace just after 7 p.m. on Monday, the dice have been thrown for a long time: “The business was settled since the beginning of the afternoon. The cast almost frozen. But the president, true to his reputation, wanted to take his time before making his choices public. I would like to remind you that he is the master of clocks… and he values ​​this prerogative, ”confides a relative.

Another reason was added: Jean Castex's tour in the afternoon with Richard Ferrand, Gérard Larcher and Patrick Bernasconi, the Presidents of the National Assembly, the Senate and the Cese, "to give them the premiere of the casting, as a sign of constitutional respect for these three assemblies ”, it is said. Even if, in fact, there was no obligation to do so. Result, it is with raw nerves that a good part of the members of the government lived this Monday with the appearance of Chinese torment: "To make us wait like that, without knowing on which side the piece will fall, it is odious "Rebounds afterwards a former secretary of state.

Blanquer warned… thirty minutes before the announcement

Because many were effectively warned at the very last moment. This is particularly the case of Marc Fesneau, Jacqueline Gourault, Marlène Schiappa, Roxana Maracineanu, Franck Riester or even Jean-Michel Blanquer. Confirmed at the National Education, with Sports in addition, the latter was for example called by the Elysée only half an hour before the official announcement ... after having been anticipated a good part of the week end to succeed Christophe Castaner in the Interior.

The Battle of Beauvau also gave rise to an incredible turnaround between Sunday evening and Monday morning. "It was in the balance with Gérald Darmanin whose name also circulated for a great social ministry," says a strategist of macronie. Sunday evening, shortly before 8 p.m., when he comes out of an interview in Matignon, the former Minister of Action and Public Accounts is convinced that he will recover this portfolio including Labor, with the pension file in addition . A great promotion on paper. While Blanquer, he has wind all weekend that he could indeed become the first cop in France. "But it can still move," suggests Castex during his interview with Darmanin.

"Castex pushed a lot for Darmanin to land in Beauvau"

The latter has never made a secret of his views for the Interior. He always dreamed of it and argues these last days with the head of state that he was re-elected in Tourcoing (North), a city affected by the problems of security and communitarianism, without forgetting that he comes from the right . Then Monday morning is decisive. "Castex, who is very close to Gérald, pushed a lot for him to land in Beauvau," says an adviser. During his nocturnal trip to a police station in La Courneuve (Seine-Saint-Denis), Sunday evening, did the Prime Minister not make it known that the choice of the future Minister of the Interior would be made on his "proposition"? He and Macron end up agreeing on this choice at lunchtime.

VIDEO. Dupond-Moretti, Bachelot, Pompili… here are the new ministers of the Castex government

At the same time, concern is rising at the same time in the ranks of MoDem, the historic partner of En Marche. The reason ? A list which circulates in the internal loops of the majority, and also in the press, in which appears the governmental casting. There is only one centrist: Marc Fesneau, approached for Agriculture. But not Jacqueline Gourault, the other MoDem from the previous government.

From Pau (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), François Bayrou fumbles and he makes it known in high places. "Just tell me it's a joke," in essence enraged the boss of MoDem. "If there is only one minister, then there will be none. It will be without us! Say other leaders of the movement. The President of the National Assembly, Richard Ferrand, is alerted. "We have a problem at the same time . It rocks too far to the right and the deputies, who are largely from the center-left version CFDT, risk not being able to navigate it, ”worries the Hôtel de Lassay.

"Sibeth Ndiaye had gone around the question ..."

The hours go by. In the meantime, some ministers still have the scoop of the presidential phone call. This is the case of Elisabeth Borne, formerly of the Ecological Transition, promoted to Work. But also of Olivier Véran confirmed to Health. Others have a less envious fate. Like Didier Guillaume, formerly at Agriculture, and called by Jean Castex to inform him that he is not renewed. At the end of the afternoon, the Palace finally reassures the MoDem. "Everything is going well", we play down: Gourault is maintained at the Cohesion of the territories, but Fesneau returns to Relations with Parliament ...

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At the same time, Sibeth Ndiaye ends up picking up her phone after thinking about it all weekend. Her choice is made: she will not stay in government, "despite several proposals," says a collaborator. A minister sums up his situation: “Sibeth has taken it out for months. I think she had gone around the question… ”

Source: leparis

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