by eurogreen
Sun May 22nd, 2022 at 01:30:55 PM EST
After a comical period of suspense, when the annoncement of a new Prime Minister (which leaked rumours promised would be a woman and an ecologist) and of a government, were repeatedly pushed back (as various people apparently turned the job down), Macron finally nominated Elisabeth Borne, a classic technocrat, reputedly from the left because she had worked for PS ministers; reputedly ecologist because she had worked for Ségolène Royal!
In any case, as with the selection of Macron's parliamentary candidates, nobody is under any illusions as to her autonomy or personal agency. Everyone does whatever the boss thinks is a good idea at the time; that is the definition of Macronism.
Frontpaged - Frank Schnittger
So, half of the outgoing ministers have been cut-and-pasted into the new government. All of the serious ministries have been given to people from the mainstream right :
Interesting to note, however, is how the `régalien` ministers - those in charge of the main governmental ministries - are on the right side of the political spectrum, with the exception of the Ministry of Justice.
Some important ministers of the outgoing government have been reappointed. Bruno Le Maire will remain at Bercy, managing the ministry of "Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty".
Gérald Darmanin was confirmed to head up the Ministry of the Interior and the outgoing Minister of Justice, Éric Dupond-Moretti, a former lawyer, was also reappointed.
A new face was installed at the Quai d'Orsay with the appointment of Catherine Colonna, who will take over the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. She had already been Minister Delegate for European Affairs between 2005 and 2007 when Jacques Chirac was the President, before being appointed French Ambassador to Rome and then to London.
So, Economy, Interior an Foreign affairs to right-wingers. Inexplicably (other than by arrogance), Macron has kept Dupond-Moretti as Minister of Justice, in spite of the fact that he faces indictment for interfering with the cours of justice with respect to dossiers he had handled as a lawyer.
Inexplicably (except see above), he has kept Darmanin, who is still under accusation for rape (according to his version, an exchange of sexual favours for his help in a court case).
Damien Abad, who was until a few weeks ago the chief of the LR (traditional right) group in Parliament, has been named Minister of solidarity. He, too, has been accused of rape.
But wait. Macron has maintained numerical parity between men and women in his new cabinet, by drafting in a bunch of women in junior positions. Standard.
The big news however, is the nomination of Pap Ndiaye, historian, as Minister of Education. He is a well-respected commentator, identified with the left, and the diametrical opposite of the previous minister, Michel Blanquer, who has run a hysterical "anti-wokism" campaign as minister.
The contrast between the two illustrates Macron's ingrained cynicism. What does he care about education?
Ndiaye's nomination is designed to throw confusion into voters' minds; perhaps he'll pick up a few votes from the centre left? Ndiaye presumably regards it as an interesting experience; I hope he has no illusions about getting anything done. His appointment has made him a lightning rod for heaps of absolutely-non-racist abuse, of course.
Nominating a government (and delaying doing so) has been Macron's way of occupying the news cycle while the election campaign for the legislatives ... doesn't happen. According to the national news media, nothing is going on. In reality, NUPES (union of the left) are the only people actually campaigning. Macron's people are generally keeping a low profile and waiting to be elected on his coat-tails.
