Michel Barnier would have done well without this meeting that has everything of call to order. At around 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday 17 September, the new Prime Minister will receive his predecessor, Gabriel Attal, now president of the Ensemble pour la République (EPR) group, in Matignon. The deputy for Hauts-de-Seine will be accompanied by his five vice-presidents (Marc Ferracci, Stéphanie Rist, Julie Delpech, Olga Givernet and Pierre Cazeneuve). The delegation will also include the resigning Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, and the former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.
The meeting, requested the night before by Attal and his troops, should allow the former European Commissioner to assess his intentions. Does Michel Barnier really intend to give the elected officials of the EPR a special place in his political system? Thirteen days after his appointment in Matignon, the plans of this right-wing prime minister who is trying to demonstrate his distance from the head of state remain impenetrable for the presidential camp. “We don’t understand their method. It’s totally opaque, we don’t know anything.” criticises Anne Genetet, EPR deputy for French people abroad.
In a message sent Tuesday evening to his deputies, Gabriel Attal regretted the lack of “ clear visibility of the political line – in particular, of possible tax increases – and of the main government balances.” by Michel Barnier, casting doubt on his group’s participation in the government. The mandate given by Emmanuel Macron to Michel Barnier is to unite the people. If he were to deviate from this political mandate, opposing Michel Barnier and his government would be tantamount to respecting the approach of the Head of State. warns EPR Group Vice President Marc Ferracci.
Silent about his political line
However, the 97 deputies of the Ensemble pour la République constitute the main force in the Palais Bourbon on which Michel Barnier can rely in a fractured Assembly in which the 193 elected representatives of the New Popular Front (NFP) and the 139 elected representatives of the National Rally (RN) and its allies threaten to overthrow him sooner or later. “We are not Playmobils. And we will not be the executors or puppets of Mr. Barnier. If he underestimates us, he will lack votes, he must not forget that.” push Mme Genet.
During the EPR group meeting on Tuesday morning, the deputies expressed their concern and anger, starting with Gérald Darmanin who, during a long speech, wondered aloud: “If our group does not agree with a certain number of government options, how do we behave?” The Northern MP, who still hopes to remain in government, took the opportunity to explain to his colleagues Michel Barnier his ideas for a possible increase in taxes. A casus belli for the Macronists, fervent defenders of the supply-side policy. This scenario has rekindled distrust towards Michel Barnier. Finally, Matignon was overruled on Tuesday evening. “tax rumors”, ensuring “that no option has been decided.”
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