Jean-Denis Combrexelle, labor code specialist, appointed director of cabinet for Elisabeth Borne

Jean-Denis Combrexelle, a labor code specialist, has been appointed director of cabinet to Elisabeth Borne, a position he currently holds with the Minister of Justice, we learned Monday, July 17 from ministerial sources.

"I announce the arrival of Jean-Denis Combrexelle, who succeeds Aurélien (Rousseau) as of today", Monday, announced in a message to his team the head of government, according to these sources.

Jean-Denis Combrexelle, 69, replaces Aurélien Rousseau, chief of staff to the Prime Minister for more than a year. The latter should have left office on July 1, and this long-delayed replacement had fueled speculation about a possible government reshuffle affecting even the head of government.

"So the Prime Minister remains" in post at Matignon, reacted to AFP a former minister of Emmanuel Macron, after the appointment of Jean-Denis Combrexelle.

This former president of the litigation section of the Council of State (2018-2021), after having chaired its social section (2014-2018), led under right-wing and then left-wing governments the powerful general directorate of labor at the Ministry of Work (2001-2014).

A specialist in social issues, he was notably the author of a report submitted in 2015 to the then Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, on labor law and collective bargaining, which inspired the Labor Law of 2016.

Since May 2022, he has been chief of staff to the Keeper of the Seals Eric Dupond-Moretti.

His appointment to Matignon was welcomed rather favorably by the social partners.

"We will see at work! At least he knows labor issues and trade unions. To be continued," commented Denis Gravouil (CGT), while Hubert Mongon (Medef) called him a '"excellent connoisseur of social matters and very recognized".