Outgoing Prime Minister Jean Castex (and his successor, Elisabeth Borne at handover. Photo Reuters
Ovation for Jean Castex to leave and Elisabeth Borne to arrive. In the courtyard of the Hotel de Matignon, the resigned French Prime Minister received Elisabeth Borne, her successor, with a hug and her red carpet on Monday night, on this move by the re -elected government of President Emmanuel Macron .
Taned as usual, small and wearing a sky blue bag like his eyes, the new prime minister did not leave the government but was made its leader from his position as Minister of Labor. If anything, it’s a long experience as an officer. A respected and solid technocrat.
A real power transfer between Castex and Borne in his office for 20 minutes to discuss the secret questions, the issues to follow, what is missing.
“Madame, the Prime Minister, dear Elisabeth,” Jean Castex began in his farewell. ”I am happy, particularly happy to welcome you to this hotel in Matignon at this emotional moment for me. My gratitude to the President of the Republic, who gave me the honor to give me the opportunity to play this role and serve my country. I want to tell the people of France that the unprecedented health crisis is very difficult, ”Castex said.
Excited, he thanked his team, his cabinet, and state and public service officials. He recalled the war and the victims of the terrorist attacks in France, especially Professor Samuel Patty, the faithful in Nice,
Elisabeth Borne was born in 1961. Photo Reuters
an emotional ceremony
So, in this emotional ceremony, Borne became France’s second female prime minister after Edith Cresson.
“Quality of listening and people” and “the prime minister who travels most often to listen to his citizens,” the new prime minister said to his friend and predecessor.
“I dedicate it to all the girls. Come, go to the end of your dreams ”Elizabeth Borne suggested the young women in her speech.
“Finally a woman in Matignon. Bravo to Elisabeth Borne and full success in France ”, wrote Catherine Vautrein, who was one of the candidates who did not make it.
An experienced technocrat
Borne was largely a technocrat, always working for the state. In a poll conducted daily Les Echos, only 19 percent of French people have a positive image of him34 percent have a bad image and 41 percent have no opinion.
Borne, born April 18, 1961 in Paris, is a General Engineer from Ponts et ChausséesMBA from the College of Engineers, Prefect of the Poitou-Charentes region from 2013 to 2014, then Director of the Cabinet of Ségolène Royal in the Ministry of Ecology from 2014 to 2015, he was President of the Autonomous Council of Transport of Paris (RATP) of 2015 to 2017.
Elisabeth Borne was close to the Socialist Party and had extensive experience in the State. Photo EFE
Very close to the Socialist Party, he joined La République en Marche and became Minister in charge of Transport in May 2017 in the first government of Édouard Philippe, under the presidency of Macron. In July 2019, he was Minister for Ecological and Inclusive Transition, replacing François de Rugy. He was appointed the following year Minister of Labor, Employment and Inclusion in the government of Jean Castex.
A short run?
Borne’s nomination may be short. It depends on who wins the legislative elections on June 12 and 19.. If the majority is won by this left -wing union, the National Assembly may force Macron to accept residency with them. In that case, his prime minister was Jean Luc Mélenchon, who had already launched the campaign.
Marine Le Pen, the candidate for Regrouping National and runner -up in the presidential election, estimated that Macron was “willing to continue his policy of contempt, of state deconstruction, of fiscal‘ racquet ’and of laxism. “
“By appointing Elisabeth Borne as Prime Minister, Emmanuel Macron shows an inability to unite and the desire to continue their policy of contempt, ”said populist Le Pen.
Jean Luc Melenchon, considering Borne “One of the most brutal figures of abuse in society”. He recalled his opposition to raising the minimum wage (smic) and his defense of retirement at 65 years.
“There is a third round of legislative elections. There is a possibility, for the French, to remove Madame Borne and make another choice in my candidacy for the post of prime minister”, Suggested Mélenchon.
Until again
“Until again”. This is how Jean Castex said goodbye from office, along with his ministers, and paved the way for French President Macron to appoint his successor under the new administration. The chosen one was Elizabet Borne, a former Segolene Royal official in the ecology ministry, former Macron labor minister and with socialist contacts.
“Mr. Jean Castex today presented the resignation of the government to the president of the republic. He will ensure, together with members of the Government, the treatment of current issues until the nomination of the new Government “, the Elysée Palace announced, in a statement on Monday afternoon.
3:55 pm in France when Castex said goodbye, at the Palace of Matignon, to his associates, after going to the Elysee to present his resignation.
A ceremony that should have been held on Saturday but the president ordered him to go to the Vatican for the canonization of a French priest. But in the end it didn’t come either because the Emir of the United Emirates died and Macron had to travel to offer condolences. Castex was left to run the government in France.
“Thank you to Jean Castex, to his government, to his entire team. For almost two years, acted with passion and commitment to the service of France. We are proud of the work accomplished and the results got together ”the president thanked.
Tonight, Castex will finally be able to say goodbye to his ministers and friends at a party, which he had to postpone on Friday. It is not ruled out that he will return to the cabinet in the “Regalian” position as Minister of Justice because he worked with President Macron wholeheartedly.
The French have a good memory of Castex. A man from the interior, although he goes to ENA, with a provincial accent and perfect Spanish because he is mayor of a town in the Pyrenees, in front of the Spanish border. And the last word to the new prime minister, in the ear, was: “My phone number is still the same.
PB
Source: Clarin
