As the grandson of an immigrant, it was to him a “great honour” to be Minister of the interior, “our beautiful country”, said Gérald Darmanin after his nomination. The 37-year-old young talent from the civil Rights occurs in order to completely follow in the footsteps of his mentor Nicolas Sarkozy. The former President looks at the man from the North of France, as a fourth son, he is particularly proud of.
Michaela Wiegel
Political correspondent, based in Paris.
F. A. Z. Twitter
Already, in the appointment Darmanins in 2017, the budget Minister, Sarkozy joked, him angry that the “love of Gérald” younger was drafted into the Ministry of Finance as he. In the Ministry of the interior moves Darmanin on paths that knows his father better than most politicians. His advice will also be needed, because the police feel that the policy left in the lurch. Police officers have been demonstrating against the racism allegations. At the same time, the youth Protest against police violence and discriminatory practices like “racial profiling is swelling, particularly in the Banlieue -“.
Darmanin comes from an Algerian family, the seized in the Algerian war party in France. His grandfather served in the French army, joined in the Second world war, the Résistance and had to fear as a “Harki” after the independence of his life. In the North of France, in the textile industry town of Tourcoing, found the family a new home. Darmanins mother Annie, who worked as a domestic help, married a French bartender with Maltese roots.
Turbulent political past
In his simple origin Darmanin looks with some Pride. His political Talent was discovered by the former MEP Jacques Toubon. 2012 moved Darmanin in the national Assembly, in 2014, he conquered the town hall of his native city. In the case of the primaries of the Republican (LR) he was the candidate Sarkozy as a campaign speaker to the side. After his defeat, he joined the presidential candidate, François Fillon. As against this, a criminal case was opened, he turned away and ran to Emmanuel Macron. In the meantime, he is the party in government La République en marche joined.
In the municipal elections in March, he received in Tourcoing, more than 60 percent of the vote. However, the town hall, the childless, divorcees, politicians will not return. As Minister of the interior, a lot of work waiting for him. On Tuesday, he could imagine the interior Minister Horst Seehofer at the informal meeting of EU interior Ministers. Its concentration is an appeal process, has initiated a 46-year-old applicant because of sexual harassment and rape against him could interfere. In the first instance, the procedure of 2018 had been set, but now the court of appeal has ordered a new investigation.