“It just fell on me” : Stéphane Séjourné took advantage of a very brief appearance before the French community in Athens on Monday, September 16, to react to his surprise appointment as France's commissioner-designate within the European Commission. The news had been announced a few hours earlier while the Minister of Foreign Affairs and his entourage were flying to the Greek capital, on the sidelines of a three-day express tour between Armenia, Greece and Moldova.
Mr. Séjourné was warned on Sunday evening by President Emmanuel Macron that a twist was possible, given the showdown between Ursula von der Leyen and outgoing Commissioner Thierry Breton over the contours of the post. But it was only on Monday that the head of state confirmed his choice, after a phone call with the President of the Commission. The change of French candidate allows the former MEP to foresee a return to Brussels, although he confided, on the plane between Athens and Chisinau, “a little frustration” of not being able, as he had hoped by relying on Mr Macron's support, to extend his tenure at the head of French diplomacy within the Barnier government.
His final “current affairs” trip, validated by the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, was to allow Mr. Séjourné, who was very little visible this summer, to finally visit three countries where his trip will have been delayed, although they are at the heart of continental tensions, facing Russia, Azerbaijan or Turkey. At each stage, Mr. Séjourné tried to reassure his interlocutors, sometimes worried about the political turbulence in France, and the prolonged absence of a government.
Negotiation skills
In the end, Mr. Séjourné's time at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs broke records for brevity: eight months. A loyal follower of Emmanuel Macron, the MEP replaced Catherine Colonna during the January reshuffle, becoming one of the shortest-lived holders of the portfolio, behind Michèle Alliot-Marie, under Nicolas Sarkozy.
As soon as he arrived at the ministry, Stéphane Séjourné went to Ukraine, then, twice, to Israel and the Arab countries. It is difficult in such a short time to weigh in on these major issues, even if his presence allowed the head of state to have a close, very political, friend at the head of the ministry. Although he has an average command of English, Mr. Séjourné, one of the few to address the tenant of the Elysée on a familiar basis and renowned for his negotiating skills, is much more comfortable in Spanish, having spent part of his youth between Mexico, Spain and Argentina.
You have 34.67% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
Source: Lemonde
