Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete leaves government and will return to become mayor of Dunkirk

Patrice Vergriete, Minister of Transport since July 2023, announced to Emmanuel Macron that he would not join Michel Barnier's future government. This decision, made official on Monday evening, marks a turning point in the political career of Vergriete, who had held ministerial positions in the Borne and Attal governments. He expressed his wish not to participate in a government that he considers too right-wing, alongside figures such as Laurent Wauquiez, Bruno Retailleau or David Lisnard, particularly on sensitive issues such as immigration.

Vergriete, who comes from the Socialist Party, had already expressed his disagreements with government policy, particularly during the adoption of the immigration law in December 2023. Although he supported Gabriel Attal after the resignation of Élisabeth Borne, he ultimately decided to concentrate on his local commitments in Dunkirk.

He will return to his position as mayor, which he held from 2014 to 2023, at the municipal council meeting on September 27. This departure is a major blow for Michel Barnier, who is struggling to attract left-wing figures to his government team. Patrice Vergriete thus joins other ministers such as Roland Lescure and Christophe Béchu, who have also decided not to continue in the future executive.