Gérald Darmanin sees himself named at the head of an enlarged morocco. Beyond the personality of the minister and the title of his ministry (Interior and Overseas), what do the decrees of attribution of the ministry tell us?
This is one of the other surprises of the Borne reshuffle of July 4 : the reappointment of the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin . Indeed, after the disastrous management of what should now be called the Stade de France affair , it seemed that the latter's days were numbered. Benefiting from the Jupiterian protection, Gérald Darmanin sees himself named at the head of an enlarged Moroccan. Beyond the personality of the minister and the title of his ministry (Interior and Overseas), what do the decrees attributing the ministry tell us?
After purchasing power, security has been one of the major concerns of the French. The Ministry of Place Beauvau is therefore consolidated in its place as number three in the government after the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty.
Is this a major change of course compared to the previous five-year period when the Overseas Territories had a full-fledged ministry? Electoral punishment in the face of the very high scores of J.-L. Mélenchon and then of Mr. Le Pen in the presidential election? Contempt of the metropolis for ultra-marines? Amalgamation between the security issue and the daily life of French people overseas?
Under the Fifth Republic, the fact that the Overseas Territories had a full-fledged ministry was rather an exception, and most of the time they were well attached to the Ministry of the Interior. Rather than a regression or a mark of contempt, the fact of having placed them under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior rather proves that overseas issues are one of the government's priorities. It is the proclamation of their full and entire belonging to the Republic (living conditions, security, education). The fact of attaching the Overseas Territories to Beauvau can therefore be perceived as a desire to reform the territorial administration, going so far as to revise the status of certain territories which request it, for example by granting them more autonomy.
Ministry of the Interior and Overseas
Decrees 2022-827 and 2022-843 of June 1, 2022, assigned the Minister of the Interior and Overseas Territories the preparation and implementation of government policy “in terms of internal security, public freedoms, territorial administration of the State, immigration, asylum, integration of foreigners in France, the fight against separatism and road safety […] as well as in matters of crime prevention and radicalization and in terms of citizenship and access to French nationality. »
It is also responsible for organizing the polls.
In addition, in the Overseas Territories, the minister develops and implements government policy:
“It is associated with the development of maritime policy in the overseas maritime basins. He countersigns the acts of appointment of the representatives of the State and of the heads of the civil and military services of the State in the communities governed by articles of the Constitution and in New Caledonia. »
Finally, “together with the Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, he prepares and implements the government's policy on decentralization”, strengthening local responsibilities, and leading national dialogue with local authorities. territorial.
“He is responsible, in conjunction with the Minister for Labour, Full Employment and Integration, for combating the illegal employment of foreigners […] [and] jointly with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, of the visa allocation policy. »
In compliance with the powers of the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons, it is competent “in matters of exercising the right to asylum and subsidiary protection and the conditions of reception of the persons concerned […] It is associated with the exercise, by the Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice, of his powers in matters of declaration of nationality and issuance of certificates of French nationality. »
Together with the Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty and the Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, he is responsible for “defining the government's orientations concerning local finances and political financial solidarity between local authorities. He participates, in connection with the Minister of Transformation and the Public Service, in defining the government's orientations concerning the territorial public service. »
Decree No. 2013-728 of August 12, 2013, on the organization of the central administration of the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Overseas Territories provides that it includes:
a) The General Secretariat;
b) The Directorate General for Local Authorities [together with the Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion];
c) The General Directorate of the National Police;
d) The General Directorate of Internal Security, an active service of the national police;
e) The General Directorate of the National Gendarmerie;
f) The Directorate General for Foreigners in France;
g) The Directorate General for Civil Security and Crisis Management;
h) The Directorate General for Overseas Territories;
i) Delegation for road safety.
The Minister of the Interior and Overseas Territories “has access to the General Inspectorate of Administration and the Higher Council for Territorial Support and Evaluation. It also has authority over the general secretariat of the interministerial committee for the prevention of delinquency and radicalization. »
For the exercise of his powers relating to internal security, the Minister of the Interior and Overseas Territories may call upon, as necessary:
“- to the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention;
– the General Directorate of Public Finance;
– the General Directorate of Customs and Indirect Taxes;
– and the interministerial mission to combat drugs and addictive behavior. »
“For the exercise of its attributions relating to the territorial administration of the State, […] it has the direction of youth, popular education and associative life. »
“For the exercise of his attributions relating to decentralization and, in particular to local finances, the Minister of the Interior has the general management of public finances.
He may also appeal to the General Inspectorate of Finance, to the General Directorate of Administration and the Civil Service, to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies and to any other department or service of the ministries which contribute the preparation or implementation of policies falling within its remit. »
“For the exercise of his powers relating to immigration, asylum, the reception and integration of foreigners and access to French nationality”, the Minister of the Interior and Overseas sea has authority:
– on the secretary general of the inter-ministerial immigration control committee;
– jointly with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, on the management of French people abroad and the consular administration. »
It has:
“- the General Directorate of the Treasury;
– the General Directorate of Customs and Indirect Taxes;
– the management of civil affairs and the seal;
– the Directorate General for Social Cohesion;
– the Directorate General for Labour;
– the interministerial anti-fraud coordination mission;
– the inter-ministerial delegation for accommodation and access to accommodation;
– the inter-ministerial delegate in charge of the reception and integration of refugees. »
“He can also call, as necessary, on the general inspection of social affairs, the general delegation for the French language and the languages of France, and the general delegation for employment and vocational training. .
For the exercise of its powers relating to the Overseas Territories, it may appeal to the general inspectorates and general councils as well as, in particular, to:
“- the National Housing Agency;
– the French Office for Biodiversity;
– the Environment and Energy Management Agency;
– the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion;
– the National Agency for Urban Renewal;
– the National Forestry Office;
– the Center for Studies and Expertise on Risks, the Environment, Mobility, and Planning. »
Finally, to help him accomplish his missions, the minister is joined by two delegate ministers and a secretary of state whose powers are also set by decree:
- A Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Interior and Overseas Territories in charge of Overseas Territories;
- A Secretary of State to the Minister of the Interior and Overseas, in charge of Citizenship;
- Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Interior and Overseas Territories and to the Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion in charge of Local Authorities.
