Changes in the French government: Catherine Pégard new culture minister after Rachida Dati's resignation

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu finalized an adjustment to the government's composition, which the Élysée Palace describes as an 'adaptation' ahead of the local elections scheduled for March. The key impetus for the changes was the resignation of Rachida Dati, the former Minister of Culture. Dati, a member of the center-right Les Républicains party, decided to leave the cabinet to concentrate all her efforts on the fight for the presidency of Paris, which she calls 'the battle of my life'. Her tenure at the Ministry of Culture, which began in January 2024, has been assessed ambiguously – on one hand, her energy was praised, on the other, she was criticized for budget cuts and a style based on image-building events at the expense of substantive reforms. The new head of the ministry on rue de Valois is Catherine Pégard. This 71-year-old former political journalist and close collaborator of President Emmanuel Macron has extensive experience in cultural management, including as the long-time president of the Versailles estate. Her nomination was announced just before the 51st César Awards ceremony, France's most important film awards, where Pégard debuted in her new role. Observers highlight the contrast in styles between the expressive Dati and the discreet, listener-oriented Pégard, who previously served as a presidential advisor. The French system of government allows for rapid changes in ministerial positions (remaniement), which often serve to refresh the image of power before important elections or are a reaction to internal political crises.Beyond the Ministry of Culture, the changes affected several important lower-level positions. Maud Bregeon, the government spokesperson, took over the portfolio of Minister Delegate for Energy, which is linked to her engineering education in the nuclear sector. Sabrina Agresti-Roubache returned to the government, taking over the area of teaching and vocational training. Jean-Didier Berger, a Les Républicains MP, was appointed Minister Delegate at the Ministry of the Interior, which is interpreted as an attempt to maintain the fragile balance between the Macronist camp and the right. Simultaneously, the local election campaign in Paris is gaining momentum. Dati's candidacy is stirring emotions, especially regarding her potential alliances. Emmanuel Grégoire, the left-wing candidate, accused her of lacking clarity about a possible agreement with Sarah Knafo from the Reconquête party. Former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe is also facing problems, as his candidate in Paris refuses to cooperate with Dati, and polls in his home constituency of Le Havre indicate a risk of defeat by a communist candidate in the second round. „C'est la bataille de ma vie” (It's the battle of my life) — Rachida Dati