The men in question, dubbed the “four crocodiles” by a member of President Emmanuel Macron’s inner circle, were said to be unimpressed by Ms Bourne’s left-wing credentials and reputation as a technocrat with little campaign experience. They include Francois Bairroux, the veteran centrist and leader of the Democratic Movement (Party Moderno), Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire and former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe. “The times demand that the prime minister be a politician” and not a “technician,” Mr Bairou, whose party is part of Macron’s coalition, told the new prime minister’s France Inter radio late last month. Even more clearly, he added that the country needs “a strong government, with a prime minister who fulfills his job as head of government.” Mr Bairu’s comments, for which he was summoned to Ms Bourne’s office the next day, came as she prepared for a much-anticipated political speech – her first since being appointed prime minister in May – before the National Assembly in early July. Ms Borne passed a crucial test when she delivered the speech last week to mostly positive feedback. However, for the so-called “crocodiles”, there is yet another target on Mrs Bourne’s back. Last month, Mr Philippe hinted that Ms Borne should step down after the party lost its absolute majority in parliament. In an interview shortly after the election, he suggested suggesting the prime minister “fully accept the consequences of the results” of the parliamentary election, adding that he was open to the idea of ”finding new people” to take control. For Mr Le Maire and Mr Darmanin, meanwhile, their resentment of Ms Borne is more personal. Last week, Politico revealed that Ms Bourne had tried and failed to oust Darmanin from office as part of a government reshuffle. Her relationship with Mr Lemaire – who has been finance minister since 2017 – has reportedly been strained for years, with Ms Bourne previously accusing him of overstepping his authority by meddling in the affairs of other ministries. All four men are expected to run for president in the 2027 election. While French media said Ms Bourne could count on their continued efforts to “make her life difficult”, others defended her, calling the tension “counterproductive”. “We cannot afford the luxury of division,” said centrist MP Sacha Houlié. Clement Beaune, the newly appointed transport minister, also voiced his support for Ms Borne following Mr Bayrou’s negative comments last month. “The political profile” he needs, he argued, “is Mrs Bourne’s”.
