Three former left-wing ministers, six LR and a base in the center… The Bayrou government, balance with a Macron twist

François Bayrou will no longer be alone on the ministers' bench at the National Assembly. MAXPPP – Alexis Sciard

The Prime Minister had promised to form a balanced executive, from the left to the right. Failed. His team of 34 ministers includes 14 close to the head of state, including Borne and Darmanin. The surprise is the appointment of Manuel Valls.

François Bayrou kept his promise, he unveiled his government before Christmas. He had also expressed his desire to present the French with a “balanced” team,a third on the left, a third on the right, the rest in the center, a challenge that he is far from having achieved.

In this new executive of 34 ministers unveiled yesterday at the end of the day, we find only three left-wing personalities. And yet, these have long since broken away from the Socialist Party. Whether it is François Rebsamen, designated for Regional Planning, Juliette Méadel in charge of the City, and especially Manuel Valls, whose waters we no longer know much about since his Barcelona adventure. The former Prime Minister of François Hollande, the only real surprise, was appointed to Overseas Territories with the rank of number 3 in the government, a portfolio that has become important with the reconstruction of Mayotte to be carried out.

14 Macronists

The heavyweights, apart from LR Bruno Retailleau who is keeping the Interior, François Bayrou finally went to find them… in Macronie, either members of Renaissance or people close to the head of state. 14 in total, more than 40% of the ministerial staff. Here again are Élisabeth Borne (n°2, in National Education), Gérald Darmanin (Justice), Aurore Bergé (gender equality), Laurent Saint-Martin (foreign trade) or Amélie de Montchalin (Public Accounts) who find those who saved their position, like Catherine Vautrin (Labor), Sébastien Lecornu (Armies), Rachida Dati (Culture) or Agnès Pannier-Runacher (Ecology)… To which must be added the MoDem Jean-Noël Barrot who is keeping Foreign Affairs. Emmanuel Macron's early partners are also well served, with Horizons taking over Public Action for example.

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A banker at Bercy

The Republicans remain the second force in this government, however, with six ministers, including Annie Genevard, who is keeping Agriculture, but a representative of civil society is entrusted with the most sensitive issue, the budget. Exit Antoine Armand, make way for Éric Lombard at Bercy. The CEO of the Caisse des Dépôts, a former banker, has already rubbed shoulders with politics, in the office of the former Minister of the Economy Michel Sapin, which led him to say this summer when his name was circulating for Matignon that he is “appreciated by the left”.

However, he will have to convince because the first reactions, from that side, were very mixed last night. “Complacency with the extreme right, democratic denial, broom wagon of opportunistic losers… A government above the void!”, was the reaction of Yannick Jadot. The Green senator was referring in particular to the latest twist that preceded the government's announcement, when Xavier Bertrand announced that he would not be Minister of Justice, contrary to what he had been promised the day before, “due to the opposition of the National Rally”.

“The coalition of failure”

While Marine Le Pen got rid of her worst enemy, this government does not have the favor of her party. “Nothing will have been spared the French: François Bayrou has brought together the coalition of failure“, Jordan Bardella growled, without however promising censorship from January 16 like the Insoumis. The person concerned, himself, said he was “very proud of this team. An experienced collective to reconcile and rebuild trust with all French people”, expressed François Bayrou, highlighting the presence “audacious” of two former Prime Ministers and denying having been pressured by the RN. However, its survival seems far from guaranteed.

The return of Hérault's Patricia Mirallès

There were no more regional ministers in the Barnier team, François Bayrou has brought a touch of Occitanie back into the executive. Montpellier-based Patricia Mirallès, 57, close to the President of the Republic and the Minister of the Armed Forces, is returning to the Veterans Affairs portfolio that she held from 2022 to 2024 and that she had left to LR Jean-Louis Thièriot last September. At the time, she confided to Midi Libre her regrets at not being able to go further in certain files that she had initiated. She will therefore be able to continue her work for better support for wounded soldiers or on the duty of Remembrance. This time with the rank of Minister Delegate.