Stéphane Séjourné, Emmanuel Macron’s prime man within the European Parliament, was appointed French overseas affairs minister on Thursday (11 January), leaving a query mark over who will lead Macron’s social gathering within the EU elections in June.
“I respect the honour that has been granted to me. It’s immense. It will likely be my obligation to hold our nation’s distinctive voice to the world”, Séjourné, who can be the secretary-general of the Macron-dominated liberal Renew Europe group within the European Parliament, mentioned on social platform X.
Séjourné’s appointment comes as a shock transfer – the overseas minister put up was left unfilled till the previous few minutes earlier than the cupboard was unveiled on Thursday. He takes over from Catherine Colonna, former ambassador to the UK and the OECD, and in authorities since Might 2022.
The choice is more likely to reverberate throughout EU centrist circles, simply 5 months earlier than EU elections.
“As head of Renew Europe, Stéphane Séjourné has proven an distinctive sense of diplomacy, negotiation and teamwork. The [Foreign Ministry] is one worthy of his expertise,” French Renew lawmaker Valérie Hayer posted on X.
Séjourné, who had been Macron’s EU adviser earlier than changing into Renew’s secretary-general, was seen by a lot of his fellow MEPs because the pure selection to steer the EU race for the Renaissance social gathering, the place he’s additionally the secretary basic, blurring the traces between the social gathering and the Renew political group.
“It needs to be Séjourné [leading the Renaissance charge],” a bunch adviser advised Euractiv simply days earlier. Renaissance is trailing Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rassemblement nationwide in polls with a fairly regular 10-point hole up to now few months.
Second wind
The appointment was a part of a authorities reshuffle that put Gabriel Attal in cost as France’s youngest ever prime minister – within the hope that this might give Macron and Renaissance’s reputation a contemporary wind.
Attal, judged by analysts to be “telegenic” and “fluent”, may very well be set to take the combat domestically towards Rassemblement nationwide (RN) President and its lead EU candidate, 28-year-old Jordan Bardella.
On the European stage, polling knowledge from 30 December suggests the far-right Id and Democracy (ID) group might leapfrog the European liberals (Renew), gathered round Renaissance, and develop into the third drive within the new European Parliament – which might deal a severe blow to Macron’s European ambitions.
“We’re prepared. [The government reshuffle] has completely no impression on our technique,” RN MEP Jean-Paul Garraud advised Euractiv.
Who’s to take over?
The appointment additional complicates the method of discovering Renaissance’s lead candidate for the June EU elections as Séjourné could be very unlikely to take it on. A number of names have made the media rounds in current weeks and months, none confirmed to this point by the Elysée.
This contains former Transport and EU minister Clément Beaune, who fell out with Macron over a reasonably restrictive immigration invoice handed in parliament in December.
Olivier Véran, former well being minister and authorities spokesperson till Thursday, may additionally be a superb candidate, a number of media reported.
Names as far-fetched because the EU Inside Market Commissionner Thierry Breton and Economic system Minister Bruno Le Maire had been additionally talked about.
“As soon as we all know the cupboard in full, we’ll have hints [as to who can run],” a French Renew MEP advised Euractiv.
Dutch MEP Malik Azmani, first vice chairman of the Renew Europe Group, will take over Renew’s management within the interim.
[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]
Learn extra with Euractiv
