First there were declarations of intent. “With the LRs, we agree on a lot of things”, declared the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, on June 28, on RTL, presenting the group of deputies Les Républicains (LR) as the most likely to “work” with the presidential camp. Three weeks later, time for practical work.
As they struggle to gather enough support to obtain an absolute majority in the National Assembly, the Macronists are multiplying gestures of goodwill towards the right, in the hope of obtaining the support of some of the 61 LR deputies. Admittedly, the government also says it is seeking reinforcements from the socialists or moderate environmentalists. But “we must note that the LRs are more numerous in the Assembly and that they have the majority in the Senate”, observes Mr. Darmanin. Before the examination of several key texts, the elected representatives of the right therefore appear as privileged partners for a power in search of allies.
This is particularly the case with the bill on purchasing power, discussed in the National Assembly since Monday. On this text, the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, estimated, on Monday, on RTL, “to be convinced” that “compromises” were “possible” to be found with the LR deputies. Reporting on “constructive” discussions with their leader, Olivier Marleix, the Bercy tenant explained that “everyone is trying to take a step towards each other”.
“It’s on our terms”
Monday afternoon, the Mayor made a big one. “You will always find an attentive and constructive ear from us on the best value for work,” he said, in response to a question from an LR deputy in the Hemicycle. Before you let go: “Your proposals on overtime and on the possibility of buying back the RTT are welcome to enrich our text. “During the examination of the articles in committee the week of July 11, the majority had already accepted an increase from 5,000 to 7,500 euros per year in the tax exemption ceiling for tax-exempt overtime. A measure acclaimed by the right, in line with that of the Sarkozy years, consisting in “working more to earn more”.
Another subject on which the executive says it is ready to accede to the demands of the right: that of fuel prices. “On this subject, as on others, there is matter for discussion,” said the Mayor on Monday. The government could expand compensation for those who use their vehicle to go to work. On Monday, on France Inter, the Minister for Relations with Parliament, Franck Riester, mentioned the distribution of a “check of 100 to 300 euros depending on the conditions of resources and the kilometers traveled”. With “a bonus” for very heavy riders, those who travel “more than 30 km to go to work and more than 12,000 km per year”.
A way for the executive to illustrate its concern to reach consensus with right-wing elected officials, considered by a macronist official as “reasonable”. Unlike the elected officials of La France insoumise (LFI) or the National Rally (RN), with which the executive excludes allying itself. Aware of the strategic importance of his troops, Olivier Marleix is upping the ante. “If the government wants to find a majority with us, it’s on our terms,” he said.
The government, on the other hand, categorically refuses LR’s proposal to cap a liter of petrol at 1.50 euros. While its cost is estimated at 50 billion euros, Bruno Le Maire presented this measure as a “red line”, the implementation of which would “explode public finances”. Without going that far, the leader of the Macronist deputies, Aurore Bergé, called for an agreement with LR on the extension of the fuel discount of 18 cents, which is due to end at the end of September. “If we can move forward on the basis of a compromise, making the rebate last longer, then why not,” she said on BFM-TV on Monday.
“No contact with the socialists”
For his part, Mr. Darmanin has already launched an operation to seduce right-wing elected officials, with a view to examining the orientation and programming law of the Ministry of the Interior (Lopmi), which should take place in fall in Parliament. In an interview with Le Monde, published on July 9, Mr. Darmanin said he was “ready” to “take up a certain number of proposals” from their ranks, in terms of immigration or security, such as “the anti-breakers law” of the leader of the LR senators, Bruno Retailleau. It is moreover on the group of the latter that the government is counting on to restore the initial version of its health bill, amputated from a key article, after the vote against opposition in the National Assembly, in the night from Tuesday 12 to Wednesday 13 July.
A pas de deux which annoys on the left. “All the outstretched hands of the macronists are in the direction of the right, while at the same time, there is no contact with the socialists to establish possible compromises”, deplores the first secretary of the PS, Olivier Faure. An orientation, which has the merit of “clarifying things”, according to him: “It shows that Macron decided to govern with the right, after having understood that his relative majority could become a tacit majority with LR. »
Concrete gestures to which are added the winks made by Emmanuel Macron during his interview on July 14. In particular when he said he wanted a new reform of unemployment insurance, in order to tighten a little more the conditions of entry into the scheme for beneficiaries. Without forgetting to plead for the entry into force of the pension reform in the summer of 2023.
