First government of Elisabeth Borne: continuity or Renaissance?

After days of suspense, the government of Elisabeth Borne was unveiled Friday afternoon by the secretary general of the Élysée, Alexis Kohler. According to Louis de Raguenel, head of the political department of Europe 1, the first lesson is that it is a government of continuity with a leading trio that does not move: Bruno Le Maire in Bercy, Gérald Darmanin in the Interior, now number 3 in the government, and Éric Dupond-Moretti who remains in Justice. Sébastien Lecornu is promoted to Minister of the Armed Forces and Gabriel Attal, the government spokesperson, undoubtedly achieves the best performance by now being Minister of Public Accounts.

A continuity therefore, and a real leaning to the left also with in particular the appointment of Pap Ndiaye to National Education, a sort of anti Jean-Michel Blanquer. For him, there is a “structural racism in France”. He also said that “the attitude of denial about police violence in France is classic”. Pap Ndiaye called some time ago to “make immigration a central element of national history”.

Few war catches on the right

Another element of the composition of the government: the demotion of the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, whose image is associated with the Covid, now leads him to the function of Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament. Finally, apart from the expected entries of Damien Abad, Minister of Solidarity and Christophe Béchu, to the Territorial Collectivities, there are not really any war prizes on the right. Moreover, Catherine Vautrin who almost became Prime Minister and the heavyweight Eric Woerth do not appear on the list.

Finally, at the Quai d’Orsay, it is one of the greatest French diplomats, Catherine Colonna, who succeeds Jean-Yves Le Drian. Former spokesperson for Jacques Chirac at the Elysee Palace, the one who is now French ambassador to London is therefore preparing to cross the Channel to take up her duties on Saturday.