Not even 10% of the deputies but almost half of the ministries and secretariats of State. Since the return of the right to government with Michel Barnier in Matignon, Republicans have enthusiastically returned to the exercise of power, giving ideas for future presidential elections.
But in a very uncertain political context, new ministers must learn very quickly and hope to leave their mark.
“We ate our white bread for years and we savored it there,” a ministerial colleague smilingly summarizes to BFMTV.com after years of working for a deputy.
“The environment has completely changed”
Since the defeat of Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012, the right had stayed far away from the ministerial corridors. While some figures on the right had crossed the Rubicon thanks to the election of Emmanuel Macron, such as Gérald Darmanin or Bruno Le Maire, the vast majority of their former colleagues had remained confined to the “opposition”.
“There has been a generational loss with faces that have been sacrificed. The atmosphere has completely changed,” Jérôme Lavrilleux, former number 2 in Nicolas Sarkozy’s campaign in 2012, told BFMTV .com.
With the exception of Michel Barnier, the only member of the Government who has been in charge of the State for more than fifteen years, all the new ministers and secretaries of State are discovering the ministerial machine. Without being able to count on the good advice of their elders.
“Strike opinion quickly and loudly”
In the Assembly, only two of them had government experience: Laurent Wauquiez until 2012 and Nicolas Forrissier under Jacques Chirac. Therefore, with a certain pressure on the shoulders to show that the right still knows how to hold the levers.
“We have to do it well, find solutions quickly, leave our mark, show that we act on behalf of the French with all the levers at our disposal,” analyzes Senator Alain Joyandet, former Secretary of State of Nicolas Sarkozy.
Obviously already with some success for Bruno Retailleau. The new tenant of Place Beauvau wants to go in all directions and does everything, from fighting illegal immigration to fighting drug trafficking.
“Our goal is to mark a real break, to change course regarding what is poisoning the lives of the French,” explains LR deputy Josiane Corneloup.
“We run the risk of only the ministry speaking in the absence of a majority, so we have to hit public opinion quickly and loudly,” summarizes a ministerial advisor more sharply.
In the absence of an absolute majority and once the budget test has been passed, the question of new particularly divisive texts will quickly arise, such as a future immigration law already announced.
An accelerator for “ambitious young people”
But the strong return of the right, which may not be characterized by legislative changes, also has the advantage of allowing largely new troops to be formed within ministerial cabinets.
Exchanges with senior officials, files that must be thoroughly mastered, networks that expand… There are so many assets that the right can use to attract new talent.
“Ambitious young people who want to work in the government to become deputies themselves have turned more to Renaissance and RN than to us in recent years,” an LR senator unassumingly acknowledges.
“Of course, it will bring new faces for future elections,” LR deputy Josiane Corneloup rejoices, often with a bonus for those close to Laurent Wauquiez who do not want to deprive themselves of accelerated training for their foals.
“Very valuable reflections for the future”
As proof, the number of local elected officials who have joined the ministries. Pierre Oliver, LR mayor of the second district of Lyon and close to the president of the LR deputies, has become special advisor to Nicolas Daragon, the new minister responsible for daily security.
The same goes for Louis de Cacqueray, once a putative candidate in the legislative elections, who became an advisor to the Ministry for Academic Success. The breeding ground of Eric Ciotti’s cabinet, when he was still at the head of the right-wing movement, also made a strong entry into the ministries.
“All these people will have learned a lot and acquired very valuable reflexes for the future,” explains a senator.
Sarkozy as an example
With Nicolas Sarkozy as a model, he incorporated into his team for the 2007 campaign many faces he had worked with in the Interior, from Rachida Dati to Frédéric Lefèvre to Franck Louvrier.
It must be said that the political situation is giving the LR a new appetite, after the disastrous result of Valérie Pécresse in the last presidential elections. Enough to expand the circle of people close to Laurent Wauquiez, who does not hide his ambitions for 2027 and perhaps also to give some ideas to Michel Barnier.
Less than three years ago, the future Prime Minister was fighting internally to represent the right in the race for the Elysée.
Source: BFM TV
