She is the one and only woman to have held this position.
In 1991, Edith Cresson, appointed by François Mitterrand, became the first female head of government for ten months.
More than thirty years later, and while Emmanuel Macron seems to be leaning towards the appointment of a woman, she warns, in an interview with the
JDD
: "
It's not the country that is macho: it's its class Politics.
»
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Her experience obviously did not convince her.
At the insistence of the then socialist president, who is in his second term, Edith Cresson agrees to settle in Matignon.
The one who has been minister four times and already suffered "
anecdotal remarks
" then discovers that "
everything has changed
".
"
These are the same attacks as today
," she explains.
They lent me words that I had never said, they threw constant criticism at me, they made comments on my dress...
"Adding:"
We would never allow ourselves the same thing, the same comments on the dress politicians.
»
"To name a woman is to take a risk"
Today, it is therefore with circumspection that the former tenant of Matignon observes the reorganization which is approaching.
According to her, the fact that a woman has access to these responsibilities is a question mark is “
scandalous
”, “
because France is the only comparable country where (the question) arises
”.
Above all, she recalls that already in her time, the polls showed that the French were "
ready
" for it.
“
I've never had the slightest problem with voters
,” she says, before admitting that “
for a president, appointing a woman is taking a risk.
" Why ?
Because the post of Prime Minister is "
very difficult
" and that "
the difficulties are increased by the fact that the head of government is a woman
”.
“
Because the attacks further complicate the political situation.
»
At the next one who will put down her suitcases at Matignon, Edith Cresson therefore gives “
no advice
” but is content with a warning: “
He will need a lot of courage.
»
