Few names have been circulating about the new tenant of Rue de Valois since the change in the composition of the National Assembly. At first, commentators were hard pressed to know what the political colour of the new government would be, then when Michel Barnier was appointed there were no usual leaks when a ministerial team is formed, nor even more or less declared candidates.
In retrospect, the reappointment of Rachida Dati as Minister of Culture is not really a surprise, at least much less so than when she was appointed last January. Belonging to the same camp as the new Prime Minister, she ticks many boxes: a woman, from a diverse background, known and undoubtedly appreciated by the French. She is therefore one of the 7 ministers reappointed in a government very much influenced by the presidential camp and the right.
It is certainly not on her record that she was chosen. She can only boast of a plan on culture in rural areas, quickly launched, full of good intentions but with limited effect. She was unable to prevent a reduction of 204 million in payment credits for her ministry for 2024, cancelling an increase of 182 M€ obtained by Rima Abdul Malak. But it is true that it is difficult for a minister to carry out major reforms or programs in just under 5 months.
On the other hand, she has marked her territory with her personality. Rather simple and attentive in small groups, she has little control over her communication in public, willingly giving her feelings (on art schools, on archaeologists, etc.) without measuring the impact of ministerial speech. She is also not afraid to go back on her decisions, as with the dismantling of the Pavillon des Sources.
The profession will naturally judge it on its ability to protect its 2025 budget and the trade-offs it will have to make between the different sectors. The ceiling letters sent on August 20 by Gabriel Attal to the ministers indicated a renewal of the 2024 budget, a decrease taking into account inflation (around 2%). The change of name of the ministry, which becomes the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, suggests that heritage will receive more support than live performance. Sources of savings are possible in the Culture Pass, but to what extent is the Pass a red line for Emmanuel Macron? The law on restitutions in the colonial context will undoubtedly be emptied of its substance given the very right-wing composition of the National Assembly and the Senate. Conversely, and for the same reasons, the law on the rapprochement between France Télévision and Radio France will most certainly go all the way.
