Paris – Accusations of undue influence are flying as right-wing leader Bruno Retailleauโ claims โขSocialist Party First โSecretary Olivierโค Faure is effectively dictating government policy,โค with Primeโข Minister Gabriel Attal simply following orders.โ Retailleau leveled theโ chargeโค during a recent public statement, echoing a famous rebuke delivered by former President Jacques Chirac in 2004.
The criticism โcenters on budgetaryโ negotiations where Retailleauโ allegesโ the government, underโค Attal, is conceding to socialist demands – a necessity, he argues, given the current parliamentary landscape. With the nationalist RN party โconsistently opposing the government in hopes of triggering new elections,the governance is increasingly reliant on securing the support of socialist deputies to avoid being overthrown. this reliance, Retailleau โcontends, has resulted inโข theโ Prime Minister “complying” with Faure’s decisions.
“Olivier Faure decides and, unfortunately, the Prime Minister complies,” Retailleau stated, directly referencing Chirac’s 2004 assertion of authority โover then-Economy Minister Nicolas Sarkozy. Retailleau, who resigned from the government citing disagreementsโฃ with its direction, further accused the socialists of promoting “lies” regarding economic policy, specifically the โclaims that reduced working hours lead to improved living standards and that increased public โฃspending automaticallyโค stimulates growth.
the dynamic is unfolding as โขthe โฃgovernment prepares to finalize its budget, โa process where concessions to the left could mean shedding key policy priorities. Retailleau โขmaintains his decision to leave the executive was justified, stating, “I do not belongโค to a โฃgovernment which would โคhave taken positions contrary to my convictions.” He characterized the โฃsocialists’ economic proposals โas misguided,labeling them “barkers” and asserting their policies have demonstrably failed elsewhere.
