The day after his victory in the 2022 presidential election, Emmanuel Macron must now choose a Prime Minister. “Ideally, you would need a sheep with five legs”, notes a member of the outgoing government: “a woman, rather on the left, sufficiently strong politically but as loyal as Jean Castex”. The name of the current Minister of Labour, Elisabeth Borne, has been widely circulated in the press.
But questioned this Monday morning on RTL, the latter kicked into touch. “That’s not the point. I think what is important is to hear the message of the French, their concerns about purchasing power, their expectations about ecology and I have no doubt (about the fact) that Emmanuel Macron will find the team to carry out this project”, reacted Elisabeth Borne. Relaunched on his possible appointment at the head of the government, the minister still replies: “That is not the question. »
This Monday morning on BFMTV, Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune, assured that “Emmanuel Macron of course wants a female appointment to Matignon”. For his part, the government spokesman, Gabriel Attal, explained on BFMTV that he did not know who would be appointed to this position or what position he would occupy himself in the next government.
“We are not elected, we are appointed”
The new Prime Minister will also have to put on the clothes of campaign leader for the legislative elections, while appetites are sharpening between La République en Marche, the MoDem and the supporters of Édouard Philippe.
Asked about the ideal robot portrait of the future Prime Minister, Bruno Le Maire replies that “there is only one person who can answer you”, the President of the Republic. Emmanuel Macron must choose a head of government for, at least, the period which will last until the legislative elections. After the elections, would the Mayor prefer Le Pen or Mélenchon to Matignon? From the outset, he tackles their “reading of French institutions”: “We are not elected, we are appointed according to the majority designated by the French. The French decide, they are sovereign, they have chosen a president, it is he who decides”.
Jean Castex would stay in place?
The Prime Minister, Jean Castex, had announced at the beginning of the week that he would resign, as well as his government, “in the days which follow” the election of the new president, in accordance with a republican tradition. But his lease at Matignon could in fact be extended for several days or even several weeks. Emmanuel Macron slipped on Friday that he was considering a “transition week” and that Jean Castex would be Prime Minister “again next week”. Even until the legislative elections in June? Some in macronie do not exclude it.
If he were to leave office, Jean Castex would still deal with current affairs pending the appointment of a new head of government.