The Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, brought together his entire government on Saturday February 10 in Matignon, in full since Thursday, to set the calendar and priorities for the coming months. “Collective, action and tangible results for our compatriots. This is what I asked the members of my government,” Gabriel Attal commented on X.
It took almost a month for Emmanuel Macron and Gabriel Attal to finalize their government team. A record in the history of the Fifth Republic. After this episode of waiting – which finally gave birth to an executive without many new faces – it was for Gabriel Attal to show a “government pack” which is “at work”, in the words of Prisca Thevenot, the government spokesperson.
The 35 members of the government were present for this seminar which lasted two and a half hours, except the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu.
“We are really in action,” affirmed Prisca Thevenot, assuring that Gabriel Attal’s “approach” consists of “listening, dialoguing and also following the decisions that have been put in place.” “We must now be sure [that the measures] are in the daily lives of the French [and say] in transparency, in honesty, but in responsibility, where it worked and where we must be able to review the copy if there is needs,” she added. The other members of the executive left Matignon without making a statement.
Gabriel Attal jostled barely named
After introductory remarks by the head of government, the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, took stock of the economic situation, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Séjourné, was to speak on the international situation and the European elections in June.
For the Prime Minister, shaken just after being appointed by the agricultural crisis, the teachers’ revolt, and this week by the attacks of Emmanuel Macron’s historic ally, the president of the MoDem, François Bayrou, it is a question of resuming the hand on the story of this second five-year term.
The government only has a relative majority in the National Assembly, Gabriel Attal must also decide which measures will have to pass by law and which will follow the regulatory route.
After the seminar, the head of government should speak in the Sunday press, Matignon said.
Several ministers immediately left for the field, like the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, expected early in the afternoon in Besançon (Doubs). He will fly to Mayotte on Sunday with the Minister Delegate for Overseas Territories, Marie Guévenoux, to address the security crisis and prepare an operation “Wuambushu 2”, “against illegal immigration”. For her part, the Minister of Labor, Catherine Vautrin, has a trip planned for Saturday in the Loiret with the Minister for Health, Frédéric Valletoux.
Asked Thursday evening on France 2 about his priorities for the first 100 days, Gabriel Attal affirmed that he was going to “continue to work” on the agricultural crisis, in the run-up to the Agricultural Show, while a law of guidance is in preparation. He also mentioned youth, hoping “in the spring” for the publication of a “guide to good practices” on the use of screens for families as well as “decisions” for schools.
He reiterated that he wanted to make the “mental health” of young people a “big priority” and that he was going to “review” the psychological support system which does not “work”. The Prime Minister also cited housing, which is going through a deep crisis, wishing to “take strong measures to encourage more building” but also “to revive demand”.